RECORD 



OF THE 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 



OF THE 



INCORPORATION OF THE 



TOWN OP DUNBARTOK N. H 



ON WEDWESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 



1865. 



MANCHESTER, N. H. 

FROM THE PKESS OF HENRY A. GAGE, 85 MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE. 

1866. 



■Jim 



•' f/^ i'-3 J-V 



PREFACE. 



Some apology may seem due for the long delay in issuing this Cen- 
tennial Hecord. This delay has been caused entirely by the difficulty 
of procuring the manuscripts promptl3^ Some have not yet been re- 
ceived ; but it is thought best to wait no longer. 

It should be remembered that, owing to the lateness of the hour, 
several of the responses and other exercises were omitted on the day 
of celebration. Thej- are, however, all collected here, representing 
as nearly as possible what would have been done had time permitted. 
Two or three sentiments, the responses to which, could not be ob- 
tained, have been omitted. 

If this Record seems too minute in any respect, the readers will 
please consider that matters which seem very trifling in the present, 
become of great interest as time passes by. Let the items be read 
from the standpoint of 1965, and they will have an interest not now 
realized. 

For errors and omissions in the parts for wl^ich he is responsible, 
the Editor craves a kind indulgence. 

Dunbarton, N. H., January 22, 1866. 



DUNBAHTON CENTENNIAL. 



The first defiuite actiou in reference to a Centennial Celebration, 
was the posting of the following notice : 

To THE Inhabitants of the Town of Dunkarton : — It being 
customary tor towns to celebrate their Centennial Anniversaries, and 
this being the one hundredth year since the incorporation of this 
town, by request of many citizens we hereby invite all who are in- 
terested, to meet at the Town House on Wednesday, July oth, at 7 
o'clock, P. M., to take the subject into consideration, and take such 
action in relation thereto as may be necessary. 

JOHX B. mELAND, ) Selectmen 

ENOCH P. IMARSHALL, f of 

CHARLES KIMBALL, ) Dunijarton. 

Dunbarton^ June 30th, 1865. 

In response to the above invitation, a few of the citizens came to- 
gether and unanimously voted to celebrate the one hundreth anniver- 
sary of the town's incorporation. There being so few present, it was 
judged expedient to take no further action till an attempt should be 
made to secure a larger attendance. Measures were accordingly tak- 
en to notif}' all the inhabitants by a committee in each school dis- 
trict, and invite them to meet on Saturday, July 8th. At this meeting- 
it was voted that the proposed Celebration be on AVednesday, Sep- 
tember 13th, and the following committees were appointed to carry 
the vote into efiect : 

Committee on Exercises: — Silvanus Ilayward, Stephen Pillsbury, 
Nathaniel H. Wheeler, Daniel IL Parker, Charles G. B. Ryder. 

Committee on Finance: — Thomas Wilson, John Lord, Eliphalet 
R. Sargent, John Burnham, Leroy R. Mills. 



Committee on Invitations :— Henry M. Putney, David Story, Gil- 
bert B. French, James M. Bailey, Leonard Rowell. 

Committee on Dinner :— Charles Stinson, Henry L. Burnham, 
Enoch P. Marshall, Thomas Johnson, Oliver Bailey, Jr. 

Committee on Building :— Charles Kimball, John C. Mills, Harris 
E. Ryder, Lyman Woodbury, David T. Whipple. 

It was also voted that these twenty-five constitute one Executive 
Committee to arrange for, and conduct the Celebration. This Com- 
mittee organized by the choice of Silvanus Hayward, Chairman, and 
Henry M. Putney, Scribe ; and subsequently Thomas Wilson was ap- 
pointed Treasurer. As was evidently necessary, the Committee held 
frequent meetings up to the day of celebration, a definite record of 
which is uncalled for, as their action is sufficiently indicated in the 
transactions of that day. Suffice it to say, they proceeded to solicit 
and collect subscriptions to defi-ay the expenses, (see appendix) and 
made all other necessary arrangements. 

About 600 copies of the following circular were sent to natives and 
former residents of the town : 

DuNB arton Centennial Celebration, — Dunbarton sends greeting 
to her absent sons and daughters, and bids them all — Come Home. 

Dear Sir : The citizens of this town propose to celebrate the One 
Hundredth Anniversary of its incorporation, on Wednesday, the 
Thirteenth day of September next. Entertainments befitting the oc- 
casion and of interest to the intelligent and the hungry, will be pro- 
vided. 

In behalf of our fellow-townsmen Ave cordiallj' and earnestly in- 
vite you to meet with us on that day, to unite with ug in reviewing 
the Century just passed, and bidding our honored mother "G-odSpeed" 
for a hundred years to come. 

Yours truly, 

H. M. PUTNEY, 



DAVID STORY, 
G.B. FRENCH, ^Committee. 
J. M. BAILEY, 
L. ROWELL, J 
Dunbarton, N. H., July, 1865. 

The Manchester Cornet Band was employed to furnish the music. 
A platform and seats sufficient to accommodate four hundred persons 
were erected at the east end of the Town House. The old pews hav- 
ing been removed from the center of the house, tables built of rough 
boards, and covered with large sheets of white paper, were extended 
across the space thus obtained. A long table was likewise built in 



the front gallery. The ladies decked the house with evergreen 
wreaths, while high above the old pulpit were displayed the words 
"WELCOME HOME." Portraits of distinguished citizens, mostly 
deceased, were hung within the wreaths in front of the galleries. — 
Provision was made ready in ample quantities, the bread and pastry 
being furnished by the ladies. The officers of the day were appoint- 
ed as follows : Chief Marshal, Col. Charles Stinson ; President, Dea. 
Daniel H. Parker; Vice Presidents, Col. John Stinson, Capt. Benja- 
min Whipple, EbenezerPage, Esq., Capt. Samuel Kimball and James 
Stone, Esq. ; Toast Master, Henry M. Putney, Esq- The Chief Marsh- 
al appointed the following Assistant Marshals: Nathaniel T. Safford, 
Horace Caldwell and Marcus M. Holmes. 

The day proved pleasant, and the number in attendance was not 
far from two thousand. The hour announced for forming the pro- 
cession was nine o^clock, but owing to the non-arrival of the Band, 
it was delayed till nearly half past ten. The procession consisted of 
about one thousand persons. Its most noticeable feature was a car- 
riage under the charge of Leonard Rowell, Esq., containing nine of 
the most aged guests, viz : Mrs. Anna Ray, aged 86, supposed to be 
the oldest person present, Mrs. Nancy Ray, aged 79, John Chase, Esq., 
aged 77, Mrs. John Chase, aged 80, Mrs. Polly Anderson, aged 73, 
Mr. John Lull, aged 80, Mrs. John Lull, aged 70, Mr. Nicholas Dolby 
and wife, each aged 73. The aggregate of their ages was 691 years. 
The oldest native male person present was James Allison, Esq., of 
Goffstown, aged 81. The oldest native male person still resident 
in town, was Col. John Stinson, aged 80. 

The procession having formed at the Town House, marched once 
around it, then to the house of Capt. Benjamin Whipple, and back to 
the stand. Music by the Band next followed, and was interspersed 
ad libitum through the exercises. The President, Daniel H.Parker, 
addressed the assembly as follows : 

Sons and Daughters of Dunbarton: 

The Committee of arrangements have assigned to me the pleasing 
duty of extending to you a cordial and hearty welcome on this occa- 
sion of celebrating the centenary of the settlement of this town. 

It seemed proper and right, that a period of time so marked with 
progress in all that pertains to the welfare of man— a period in which 
nearly three generations have lived and have passed to the other 
world — that such an epoch should be particularly noticed. And in 
what manner so fitting as that we have a family meeting ? For this 
we have invited the absent ones to return to the old hive, that we 
may see^the faces of our beloved friends once more — take each other 



by Ihc hand and speak of the past, the i>resent and the future, and 
that Ave may perpetuate those principles of virtue, morality and re- 
ligion which adorn human society, and which were possessed in good 
degree and were handed down to us by our ancestors. 

We owe a debt of gratitude to the Giver of all good that the "lines 
have lallen to us in such pleasant places, and that we have so goodly 
a heritage/' 

The honorable and useful course ynn have pursued in the various 
professions and walks of life, has been observed by lis with lively in- 
terest. You have proved that Dunbarton is " a good place to emi- 
grate from," while ive bear testimony that it is a good town to live in. 

And now, dear friends, as you have come back to the old home 
again, we open our doors and our hearts to j'ou, and ask that you 
will tarry with us so long as may be for your convenience and pleas- 
ure. And as j'ou pass over these hills and valleys, through the groves 
and by the meandering brooks, and as you sit under the tree planted 
by your own hands and partake of its fruit, may the associations and 
memories of the scenes of childhood and youth be pleasant and profit- 
able. 



The following Hjrmn, written for the occasion by Mrs. Annis G. 
Marshall, was then sung to the tune, Mount Santis, bj' a choir of 
Dunbarton singers, led by Col. S. B. Hammond. The singing book 
used through the day was " The Harp of Judah." 

Welcome home again, ye children, 

Welcome to your native town, 
Laden each with well-earned honors, 

We are glad in your renown ; 
Every heart in pleasure beating 

With an honest, grateful glow, 
That our fathers this location 

Sought, one hundred years ago. 

And thrice welcome to each soldier 

Whom the dawn of peace has freed ; 
Ye have served our countrj^ nobly 

In her time of sorest need, 
With that old heroic spirit 

Which our fathers used to show, 
In the stormy revolution, 

Near one hundred jears ago. 



9 



Theu to every son and daughter 

We will shout a welcome home ; 
May our children's children gather 

Here a century to come. 
Tears we shed for those who slumber 

Wishing all our joys to know ; 
May we meet in Heaven the fathers 

Of one hundred years ago. 

May our King, our heavenly Father, — 

To whose name be all the praise, — 
Give us hearts to love our Savior, 

Health, and strength, and length of days; 
Guide us ever onward, upward ; 

Keep us from the ways of woe ; 
Help us imitate the virtues 

Of one hundred years ago. 



Psalms XLIV. 1-3, LXXVIII, 1-7, and LXVH were read by Rev. 
William Clark, of Amherst ; after which, prayer was oftered by Rev. 
Leonard S. Parker, of Derry. The following Centennial Address 
was then delivered by Prof. Charles G. Bubnham, of Haverhill, 

Mass. 



ADDRESS. 



Mr. President and Fellow Citizens : 

I thank you for honoring me with an invitation to partici- 
pate in the exercises of this day. It is pleasing to me to be 
thus assured tliat I am held in favorable remembrance by the 
people of my native town. I have only to regret, that I have 
not had more time and ability to devote to a preparation for 
an occasion of so much interest. 

The labor, however, is not so much to collect the materials 
for a Historical Address, as to select from facts already col- 
lected, a connected series that can be properly presented with- 
in the limited space of time allotted to a single exercise. 

Dunbar ton has been fortunate in rearing upon her own 
soil, her own historians. Amos Hadley, Jr., and Caleb 
Stark, have earned a place among the benefactors of the town, 
in that they have bestowed so much time and gratuitous la- 
bor to collect and arrange the materials of its history. Mr. 
Hadley, in 1845, delivered an exceedingly well written Ly- 
ceum Lecture of great value as a History of the Town. Mr. 
Stark followed Mr. Hadley, and added much valuable matter. 
The Town, in 18G0, in its liberality, voted to publish the man- 
uscript of Mr. Stark, and place a copy in the hands of every 
tax payer in town. 

This generous intention of the town, I am informed, was 
not carried out, owing to the question having been raised, af- 
ter the vote was passed, whether the law would justify the 
enforcement of the collection of a tax for such a purpose. It 
did not, probably, occur to the objectors that there was no 



11 

law to prevent every property holder in town from paying his 
due proportion of the expense of the publication of the work. 

There is a marked difference between breaking a statute 
law, and refusing to put forth an act because the law has not 
anticipated and provided for it. In the one case, we are 
transgressors of law ; in the other, we should be liable to the 
charge of holding knowledge at a discount, when our pockets 
are touched. 

However, be this as it may, the manuscript was published, 
and to his credit be it said, by the author. The work was 
carefully prepared, and has appeared before the public in a 
creditable form. Still there are, probably, many present to- 
day, who have not seen the history of their native town. I 
shall therefore avail myself of the- labors of Mr. Stark and 
others, and re-producc a brief history. I must, of necessity, 
he brief — omitting much that would be interesting — other- 
wise I shall consume more time than properly falls to my 
share. 

And now you will allow me to present the subjects of inter- 
est, which cluster around this day and distinguish it from all 
others, as they occur in my own mind. The day, in itself, 
does not differ materially from other days. If the morning 
was clear and cloudless, or dark and stormy, cold or hot, wet 
or dry, there have been thousands of a like character in past 
time. Standing here in your presence, the first thought of 
interest, is that here are assembled most of the inhabitants of 
the town, — persons of all ages, — children and grand-children 
— sires and grand-sires. They have never met on a like oc- 
casion, and never will again. There never has lived but one 
person in town, whose age could span a century. Mrs. Jo- 
seph Leach lived 102 years. 

The second interesting thcmght is that here are those who 
have long been absent ; old men meeting old men, from whom 
they parted in their boyhood, and whom they have never 
met since. They have been tossed on life's broad ocean thir- 
ty, forty or fifty years, and most of those who shipped at the 
same time, have been wrecked. But the few surviving have 



;#^!^i^^. 



12 

returned, moored their vessels in this little harhor, whence 
they set sail, come on shore to-day to call the roll, to take 
each other once more by the hand, and to learn the history of 
the livinjr and the dead. But the thought most interest- 
ing, and which stirs the soul in its lowest depths, letting in- 
to its inmost recesses the light of other days, is, that ive have 
all come home ! 

Yes, we are all at home to-day. The word Home was nev- 
er so beautiful — its utterance never so musical as now. Its 
import wc all deeply feel, but cannot speak it. I once had, 
while in College, an Indian boy about eleven years of age, un- 
der my charge. When he had learned to read and Avrite a lit- 
tle, he wrote a composition, and the subject was "Home." His 
first sentence was a definition of the word, and also a propo- 
sition to be demonstrated. He commenced by saying "Home 
is home." Ho could think of no word, — he could command 
no language, — that would express the thoughts the word sug- 
gested to his mind ; and therefore, by necessity, he repeated 
the word "home" : "Home is home." He then proceeded to 
demonstrate : "For there I was born" (in the woods,) "and 
brought up, and there all my relations live," (the wild Indi- 
an,) "and therefore, I think there is no place like home." 

Here is the whole philosophy of this day's gathering. It 
does not matter where one had his birth — whether in the 
artic or antartic region? — in the torrid or temperate zones — 
whether in the city or in the country — in the wilderness or in 
the town — "Home is home." Nor did I ever hear a person 
express any regret on account of the place of his birth. The 
Irishman who quaintly said "He might as well have been born 
in Dublin as Cork, if he had chosen to be," but that he did 
not choose to be, expressed a general truth. No one would 
exchange the place of his birth for any other spot on earth, 
for then would he barter away some of his most peecious as- 
sociations for no equivalent. 

But it is time we had commenced the task assigned us. — 
Lotus, in imagiiuition, go back one hundred years or more ; 
shutout of view these beautifully cultivated fields — close our 



13 

eyes to this limitless perspective spread around us in every 
direction — and fancy ourselves in the midst of a dense forest. 
There are tall, sturdy trees all around us, and the under- 
growth so dense that we can see but few rods from us. The 
bear, the catamount, and the wolf, roam at large, and there 
is none but the red man of the forest to dispute their right of 
way. 

We will leave this spot for the present, and go in an easterly 
direction about two miles in search of civilization. We come 
to the Great Meadow, so called, and here we find, on the east- 
erly side, two families. Joseph Putney and James Rogers have 
been here some few years, for there are apple trees already in a 
bearing condition, and other indications of civilized life. This is 
previous to 1746, but the precise year these families commenc- 
ed their settlement is not known. We ask ourselves wliat mo- 
tives could induce these men to assume such a Herculean task, 
as to live and support their families at such a time and in such 
a place ? It is difficult for us to divest ourselves of our life- 
long privileges and sources of comfort, and realize the sur- 
roundings and prospects of these men. It is true, an exten- 
sive tract of meadow land had been cleared by the industrious 
beaver, and even then furnished ample forage for neat stock. 
But where was the tillage land, upon which to raise food for 
their families ? The land was hilly and stony in the vicinity 
of the meadow, with no rich and fertile interval spreading 
between the hills, and not a tree felled by the ax. The men 
who would voluntarily grapple with such obstacles, were no 
common men. Surely they had none of what we call luxu- 
ries to anticipate in their generation. It would seem to us 
that they most fully realized the scripture, " No man liveth to 
himself, and no man dieth to himself," for they must have 
lived and labored for the generations which were to come af- 
ter them. It would seem that they most cheerfully submitted 
to the law — " In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy 
bread, till thou return to the ground whence thou wast ta- 
ken." For it is true, that for every pound of bread which 
they produced, they must have expended an equal amount of 



14 

l»one and muscle. In 1746 these settlers were obliged to re- 
treat to Concord, then called Rumford, to escape massacre by 
the Indians, who came the same night they made their escape, 
burned their dwellings, cut down all their apple trees save 
one, and slaughtered their cattle. Putney and Rogers 
remained in Concord three years, until the close of the In- 
dian war in 1749, when they returned and made a* permanent 
settlement. As yet, those persons appear to have no special 
title to the land tliey occupied. James Rogers gave it the 
name of Mountalona, from a place of the same name in Ire- 
land or Scotland. Stark says in Ireland, where he once lived. 
In 1751, says our historian, the 54th year of the reign of 
George the Second, Benning Wentworth being provisional 
governor of New Hampshire, a settlement was commenced, a 
grant of a township having been made by the assigns of John 
Tufton Mason to Archibald Stark, Caleb Paige, Hugh Ramsey 
and others. Tliis grant embraced a territory five miles square. 
It included a portion of the present town of Hooksett. The 
next settlement, of which we have any reliable information, 
was made in the western part of the town, by Thomas Mills, 
William Stinson and John Hogg. Many of the first settlers 
of Dunbarton,or Starkstown, as it was originally called, were 
Scotch-Irish, that is, they were Scotchmen whose ancestors, 
one hundred years before, fled from Scotland to Ireland to 
avoid religious persecution, and their descendants fled from 
Ireland to this country for the same reason. The southern 
section of tlie town was settkd mainly by immigrants from 
different sections of Massachusetts. Several families came 
from Chebacco, now Essex. Of these families, six were of the 
name of Burnham, and settled in the vicinity of each other. 
Records show that highways were laid out previous to 1760. 
The road in the western part of the town, which passes the 
church, was one of the first laid out, and was the road trav- 
elled by teams from the towns above to market. Within the 
memory of the speaker, this road was much travelled. I 
well remember hearing my grandfather ask a teamster going 
north, where he was bound ? (a common phrase used in those 



15 

days for where are you going?). He replied, " To the future 
state," meaning the state of Vermont. In 1760, one hundred 
acres of land were granted by the proprietors to Capt. Jolin 
Stark, as an encouragement to build a saw-mill, upon the con- 
dition that the mill should be completed within one year. — • 
The mill was built. A corn-mill was afterwards erected by 
the same individual. In 1771, a corn-mill was built by a Mr. 
Hadley. In my boyhood, it was called Kimball's mill. 

The proprietors held their meetings for the transaction of 
business, until the first meeting house was built, which was 
nearly eighteen years, at the house of Capt. William Stark. 
The first public meeting in Dunbarton was held October 17th, 
1752, upon land settled by Daniel and John McCurdy. The 
historian does not say whether the meeting was held in a house 
or in the open air. I extract from Stark's History the follow- 
ing — " Archibald Stark being the first named grantee, and one 
of the principal proprietors, the grant was, in compliment to 
him, called Starkstown, by which name it was known fourteen 
years. On the 10th of August, 1765, in the fifth year of the 
reign of George the Third, it was made 'a body politic and 
corporate, to have continuance until His Mejesty's pleasure 
should be signified to the contrary, by the name of Dunbar- 
ton, with powers and authorities, privileges, immunities and 
franchises,' belonging to other towns in the province. Its 
new name was adopted as a memorial of fond recollections 
retained for the town and castle of Dumbarton, in Scotland, 
from the vicinity of which Archibald Stark, and the ancestors 
of many of the inhabitants, emigrated." 

Governor Wentworth, in the name of the king, signed the 
Charter, in which Caleb Paige was authorized to call the first 
meeting, any time within forty days after the date of it. — 
" Thenceforth all the meetings for the election of town offi- 
cers, were to be held on the second Tuesday in March. In 
1791, an Act was obtained from the General Court, by which 
the town was authorized to hold its annual town meeting the 
first Tuesday in March." 

" The first regular town-meeting held in Dunbarton, after 



16 

its incorporation, assembled at tlie house of William Stark, 
Sept. 3d, 1765, when were chosen its first town officers." We 
have no knowledge that the town was ever represented in the 
Provincial Legislature. In 1775, Caleb Page was chosen a 
delegate to the Provincial Congress. For several years, Jere- 
miah Page represented Dunbarton and Bow in that Legisla- 
ture. Li 1793, David Story was elected representative. He 
was the first elected by the town in its separate capacity. — 
During the period over which we have now passed, the popu- 
lation of the town rapidly increased. In 1770, the number 
of inhabitants Avas 497. From 1770 to 1790, the increase 
was 420, making the whole population of the town 917. — 
From 1790 to 1840, the gain was only thirty-three. Thus it 
appears, that for a term of fifty years, the town did little bet- 
ter than to hold its own ; nor does the population differ ma- 
terially to-day from what it was seventy-five years ago. It is 
not to be supposed that there has been no increase of popula- 
tion during all this time. The town has furnished settlers for 
other and newer sections of our country. The question may 
be asked, why it was, that when the population of the town 
had reached certain limits, it l)ecame nearly stationary ? The 
answer is obvious. The land was nearly or quite all meted 
out into lots, and taken up. And they reasoned that, if a 
man can barely gain a livelihood on a large farm, that he 
could not live at all on a small one. For it is a modern dis- 
covery, that one acre well tilled, is more profitable than two 
tilled as it was in those days. Not, therefore, thinking it ju- 
dicious to divide the old homestead, they chose to emigrate. 
Nor wonldit be strange, if occasionally, a young man of read- 
ing and of an inquiring mind, should have received an im- 
pression, that somewhere in this wide world, there might pos- 
sibly be a milder climate, and a more alluvial and fertile soil, 
than in his native town. 

But it is time to take up another thread in our history, and 
since it is in the warp, and runs through the web, I must re- 
turn to the organization of the town. At the second meeting 
of the proprietors, March, 1752, a vote wa:; passed, that a 



17 

meeting house should be built within five years from May 
next ensuing. In October, 1753, Caleb Page, Samuel Rankin 
and John Stark, were appointed a committee to build a 
meeting house. In 1765, William Stark, William Stinsou 
and Jeremiah Page, were chosen a committee to finish the 
meeting house. The house was finished previous to 1767. — 
The people were not destitute of preaching during these years. 
It is related, that Mr. McGregor preached in the open air up- 
on the spot now consecrated as the resting place of the dead. 
This first meeting house is described as a low frame struc- 
ture, without pews ; with seats of rough planks, resting upon 
chestnut logs, and a pulpit constructed of rough boards. 
This house remained twenty years, when it was removed, and 
this venerable building was made to occupy its place — built 
in 1790. There were no means of warming a church in those 
days. Nor am I sure that such a luxury would have been fa- 
vorably regarded by all good people, in those times. It might 
have been thought to be consulting one's comfort to the neg- 
lect of duties more appropriate to the sanctuary, and that 
cold hands and feet were so common, six days in the week, 
that they should not receive special attention on the seventh. 
However that might have been, I well remember how difficult 
it was to neglect our hands and feet, and give attention ex- 
clusively to the preaching. There were but two houses, far 
back in my memory, sufficiently near the meeting house, to 
which the people could repair, in the interim of divine ser- 
vice, to warm themselves. One of these was the house of 
Wm. Stark. It occupied the site of the new Congregational 
church, on the west side of the way. The other stood iipon 
the angle formed by the main road, and the road running 
westerly, a little south of the church. It was built by Dr. 
McDugal, and occupied, in my earliest reccollection, by Mr. 
Wm. Bailey. For nineteen years after the first church was 
erected, there was no settled ministry. Several clergymen 
are spoken of as having been employed to preach at different 
times. The war of the Revolution so impoverished the peo- 
ple, that it was difficult to raise even a small amount of mon- 
c 



z;y- 



18 

ey for'any object, other than the war. From 1780 to 1783, 
they hired preaching but twenty-four days. October 30th, 
1788, a committee was appointed to hire Mr, Harris to preach 
one year, or a shorter period, on trial. January 26tli, 1789, it 
was voted to give Mr. Harris a call. He was then a young man 
of about 27 years of age. He was ordained August 22d, 1789. 
Dr. Emmons, with whom he studied for the ministry, preached 
the ordination sermon. Dr. Harris was born in Lebanon, 
Conn., June 8th, 1761. He, with an elder and only brother, 
enlisted a soldier in the Continental army, at the age of 16, 
and served three years. When the war was over, he pur- 
chased some land in Lebanon, N. H., and labored a few years 
in felling the trees and clearing it up. One day, while thus 
employed, having become impressed with the idea that there 
was another sphere for him to occupy, he discussed the ques- 
tion aloud with himself alone. And when he had exhausted 
the subject, he summed up the arguments on both sides, and 
proclaimed his decision aloud in open court, in these words : 
" I am going to college." He struck his ax into the tree he 
had felled, and left it a present to the finder. 

He graduated at Dartmouth College, with high honors. — 
The part assigned him was a Hebrew oration. There was no 
other member of his class, who had studied the Hebrew lan- 
guage. The foregoing is substantially as I have heard Dr. 
Harris relate it. Dr. Harris was a man of more than ordina- 
ry intellectual endowments. His personal appearance and 
bearing, would indicate him to be of Puritanic stock. He had 
a logical mind. His perceptions were remarkably clear and 
satisfactory to himself ; and hence the entire confidence he had 
in his own views of truth. And those views he could defend 
with great power. Few men would venture to cope with him 
in argument. So clearly defined were his premises, and so 
logical his process of reasoning, that he stood like an impreg- 
nable tower, and no ordinary battery could move him. If his 
opponent denied his premises, (as the questions in dispute 
were generally theological), he would leave him to quarrel 
with their divine Author. If he admitted them, he was very 



19 

certain, in the end, to slay his opponent with his own argu- 
ments, and to make him feel that he had been slain with the 
jaw bone of an ass. He had a wonderful faculty of annihi- 
lating the arguments of his antagonists, at a single dash — 
stripping him of his armor, in which he trusted, and compelling 
him to realize that he had been leaning upon a broken reed. 
I remember, when I was quite a lad, a man moved into town, 
who was a great skeptic. He was an intelligent man, and fond 
of discussion. He soon sought an opportunity to measure 
lances with Dr. Harris. He attended a conference meeting, 
and when the Dr. had finished his remarks, and given liberty 
to any one who desired to speak, the skeptic arose, and, ap- 
parently with a good degree of self-confidence, said ; "Dr. 
Harris, do you believe God ever made a man to damn him to 
all eternity?" "No," said the Dr., "nor to save him eternal- 
ly." This reply was unexpected, and the infidel was, at first, 
taken somewhat aback ; but he soon recovered, and asked — 
"What, then, did He make him for, if neither to damn him, 
nor to save him?" Dr. Harris fixed his piercing eye upon 
him, and replied with great emphasis : " He made him for his 
own glory." I do not remember that any reply was made ; 
in fact, I do not perceive that any thing more could have been 
said. I have long regarded Dr. Harris as one of the greatest 
natural orators of the age in which he lived. "When he laid 
aside his notes, and raised his spectacles upon his forehead, his 
hearers knew well what to expect. His countenance would 
light up with great brilliancy, and his clear and ringing voice 
would so electrify his audience, that they were captives at the 
will of the speaker. The saints he would fill with joy, and 
carry them whither they would ; and the sinners, he would 
alarm and carry them whither they would not. 

It would be a repetition of idea, at least, to say he was a 
man of great decision of character. I remember, that during 
the war of 1812, so called, political parties were very violent. 
Dr. Harris belonged to the party called Federal. The ques- 
tion was raised whether clergymen had the right to vote. On 
M arch meeting day, Dr. Harris, at the proper time, entered 



20 

the meeting— elevated himself upon the steps that lead to the 
pulpit, and with a full, commanding voice, said : " I have 
fought the battles of my country — my only brother fell by my 
side, and who is he who says I sha'n't vote?" and then deliber- 
ately extended his hand to the ballot-])ox, and deposited his 
vote. And stepping down, he walked majestically out of the 
house. During this exhibition, the house was as silent, and 
nearly as breathless as yonder grave yard. 

The ministry of Dr. Harris was long and successful. For 
more than forty years, he went out and in before this people. 
He was " constant in season and out of season preaching the 
word, whether men would hear or whether they would for- 
bear to hear." 

"In 1790, deacons were chosen for the first time, James 
Clement being the first, and Edward Russel, the second. In 
1792, there was a powerful revival of religion, eighty persons 
were added to the church as the fruits. In 1826, there was 
another extensive work of grace, and many heads of families, 
in middle life, were added to the church." Frequent addi- 
tions were made to the church in the interval between these 
periods. There was one characteristic of Dr. Harris, which 
we should not omit to notice. It was always manifest, both 
in his preaching and in his private intercourse with his peo- 
ple, that he was more anxious to save their souls than to get 
them into the church. Hence, in his examination of candi- 
dates for admission, he did not hesitate to apply the severest 
tests. It would seem very difficult for one, while he was the 
under shepherd, to enter the fold, hnt by the door. And the 
result has been, tliat cases of discipline and exclusion from 
church membership, have been exceedingly rare. 

Another thread in the warp of this historic web, is your 
schools. They also received very early attention. At the 
same meeting of the proprietors, when the subject of the Gos- 
pel ministry was considered, the subject of schools came up. 
Although, during the war and some time after the close, the 
appropriation for the support of schools, was frequently with- 
held. March 12, 1771, an appropriation of thirty dollars was 



21 

made for schools. This is the first of which we have any re- 
cord. The same sum was appropriated three years success- 
ively. From 1775 to 1785, no appropriation was made. We 
cannot forbear to contrast this fact with the fact in regard to 
education in New England, during the recent war of four 
years. Never was there so much done for education. Never 
so many and so large donations made — so much money raised. 
Massachusetts raised $100,000 more the last year, than in 
any one year in all her history. But to return to our subject. 
" The first schoolmaster who taught in this town was a Mr. 
Hogg — commonly called Master Hogg." And the first female 
teacher was Sarah Clement. Their means of acquiring knowl- 
edge were exceedingly limited, compared with the facilities of 
the present day. Their school books were the Bible and 
Psalter. In some schools, the New England Primer was re- 
quired to be studied. The study of arithmetic was pursued 
without the aid of a book, unless, possibly, the teacher might 
be the rich owner of one. The teacher gave out the problems 
to be solved, and the scholar must manage them as best he 
could. And yet, with these scanty moans and rare opportu- 
nities, for their term of school was short, our fathers acquired 
so much of the elements of knowledge, as enabled them to 
act well their part SLS7nen, and men of business. In those days 
the people generally knew the value of education, and felt the 
necessity of making the best possible use of the means they 
possessed. The little they acquired at school, they put to im- 
mediate use. Few elements of knowledge properly applied, 
like the five mechanical powers, will effect wonders. Dr. Har- 
ris was ever deeply interested in the subject of education, and 
was generally, if not always, during his ministry, appointed a 
school committee to examine teachers and visit schools. The 
duties of his office he faithfully discharged. Dr. Harris was 
succeeded in the ministry by Rev. John M. Putnam, who also 
preached the word successfully for more than thirty years. — 
Under his preaching the church was edified and built up. — 
Mr. Putnam was succeeded by Rev. Silvanus Hayward, your 
present minister. 



22 

Having now briefly considered the two main threads in the 
history of Dunbarton, ReHgion and Education — fundamental 
pillars they might well be called, in the structure of the town, 
we may turn to other characteristics which are generally found 
to be a part of the frame work of such a building. And these 
are temperance, virtue, stability, diligence in business, econo- 
my, benevolence, patriotism, and a condition of things grow- 
ing out of these, which is general prosperity, competence, and 
finally, abundance and independence. These are the outlines 
of the history of Dunbarton. From the character of such a 
people, it is not difficult to imagine the part they would act in 
those foreign and domestic wars, in which our country has 
been involved. In the French and Indian wars, Dunbarton 
bore an active and honorable part. Several of the veteran 
soldiers of those wars served through the war of the Revolu- 
tion, and bravely fought in the battles of Bunker's Hill, at 
Trenton, Princeton and Bennington, and other places. Dun- 
barton withheld neither her sons nor her means in that war, 
which was to estaljlish, not merely our independence as a na- 
tion, but to establish the principle of the equal right of all 
men to enjoy the perquisites of being sons of God. In the 
history of this world, it was reserved to be the glory of the 
times in which our fathers lived, to give expression to the 
principle of the equality of the natural rights of all men. — 
Our fathers boldly proclaimed it to the world in the following 
ever memorable words — "We hold these truths to be self-evi- 
dent, that all men are born free and equal, having certain in- 
alienable rights, as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." 

In the slaveholders' war, or the Great Rebellion, as it will 
be called in history, which broke out in tbe spring of 1861, 
and ended in the spring of 1865, Dunbarton acted a noble 
part. By the kindness of David Tenny, Esq., I am furnished 
with the following statistics : " Fifty-four soldiers were called 
for by the Adjutant General, from an enrollment of 130 able 
bodied men. Dunbarton sent 80 recruits to the war, 05 of 
whom were volunteers, it being 26 above all calls." I omit 
the names of those brave men, as they are already safely en- 



23 

rolled to re-establish those principles for which our fathers 
sacrificed so much. Dunbarton, as she had in the preceding 
wars, gave freely both men and money. This war, in some of 
its features, was the most remarkable in the annals of all time. 

It was characterized, on one side, bj the most unparallcd bar- 
barity, manifested in starving to death and otherwise destroy- 
ing the lives of Union soldiers, while they (the enemy) held 
them prisoners of war. And on the other side, by the most 
unbounded liberality and generosity, shown in bounties to 
soldiers, and in provisions made for the support of their fami- 
lies — also for sick and wounded soldiers. It would be out of 
place, at this time, to discuss, at any length, the causes, or the 
issues of this war. But its thrilling events — how the wisdom 
of man was made to appear foolishness with God, and all hu- 
man calculations were set aside, and good brought out of evil, 
are so fresh in our memories, that it is difficult not to give 
them a passing notice. But this much we can and must do, 
thank God that the war is closed — that blood has ceased to 
flow — that the old ship ot state has out-ridden the storm, and 
although the sea still heaves and rolls, and the vessel screaks, 
still we trust in the Master of the storm, that He will again 
command the swelling of the sea, and all will be calm. 

The bearing of this war upon the destinies of our country 
and the world, cannot now be estimated. We confess our- 
selves, within the last four years, to have been frequently 
startled by the sudden issuing forth of justice and judgment 
from behind the thick darkness that surrounds the throne, 
but we do not yet see the end from the beginning. When jus- 
tice and judgment shall run down our streets as a stream, and 
righteousness as an overflowing fountain — when justice and 
mercy shall again have met and embraced each other, then 
shall the salvation of our country be complete, and the ways 
of Providence vindicated to man. 

We have now hastily glanced at the leading facts in the 
settlement and growth of Dunbarton. Of one thing, I think, 
we are assured, — that the first settlers of the town were men 
of great physical energy — of unyielding purpose — of unre- 



24 

mitting persevereiice ; and, also, tliat they were men who 
practiced the most rigid economy. Of one other thing, we 
are equally well convinced, and that is, that those qualities 
will ensure success, whether possessed by an individual or by 
an organization of men into a body politic. And now we 
come to the great question of the hour, viz.: — What is the un- 
derlying principle, what is the family or school instruction, 
whicli secures to society such men for generations ? which 
has modified and shaped — given direction and tendency to the 
facts and events of the history of your town, and made the 
town what it is ? The answer will be obvious, I think, from 
a consideration of certain other facts connected with its his- 
tory. The most prominent and interesting fact is, that Dun- 
barton has enjoyed the continuous preaching of the gospel for 
seventy-five consecutive years. The influence of the life and 
preaching of Dr. Harris is manifest to-day in every depart- 
ment of your material prosperity, as well as upon the moral 
and religious character of the people, and will be for genera- 
tions to come. It is not true that either the good or the evil, 
that men do, is buried with their bones. The acts and the 
words of men areas immortal as the soul. We are assemble^l 
to-day to re-produce the character of the first settlers of the 
town, — to recount their virtues and to give them fresh vigor, 
and send them on through another century. I have referred 
to the influence of the long ministry of Dr. Harris, in con- 
nection with that of his successors, as underlying your pros- 
perity, — as the vitalizing force in all your pursuits. Com- 
pare your town with any other town in your vicinity, where 
they have had no permanent ministry — have been subject to 
frequent changes — preaching a few Sabbaths, and destitute a 
few Sabbaths, and how stands the record ? Are the peoiDle 
as moral, as intelligent, temperate and industrious ? Is 
wealth as equally distributed — have they as few poor ? You 
have not poor enough in your town to verify, within your 
own observation, the Savior's words, " The poor ye have al- 
ways with you." Your poor-house was nearly emptied years 
ago, and you are all comfortable livers ; and many can com- 



25 

mand the luxuries of life. By your industry you have com- 
pletely subdued your hard and stony soil, and forced it to 
yield abundantly. When I compare the real condition of 
the town and its appearance to-day with its condition and 
appearance forty years ago, when it ceased to be my perma- 
nent residence, I confess my surprise at the change. Then, 
by the industry and strict economy of all the members of a 
large family, both ends of the year could barely be made to 
meet. There was then no market nearer than some sea-port 
town, and but little produce to be sold. Now, there are in 
your immediate vicinity manufacturing villages, which furnish 
a ready market for every variety of the products of your lands. 
The industry of your young men has been stimulated — you 
have improved your farms, increased your means of obtaining 
wealth ; nor have you hoarded up your money to the neglect 
of the conveniences of life, and matters of taste. The contin- 
uous preaching of the gospel, and your schools, (always the 
hand-maid of the gospel) have given the people expanded and 
liberal views, so that in all that adorns society, Dunbartonhas 
made most praiseworthy progress. She has sent about forty 
of her sons to college — four per cent, of her present popula- 
tion. Has any other town in your vicinity done as well ? 

Time would fail me to dwell more at length upon the bless- 
ings which have come down to you from a pious and industri- 
ous ancestry. God said of Abraham, " I know him, that he 
will command his children and his household after him, and 
they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judg- 
ment ; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he 
hath spoken of him." So do you command your children 
and your households, that the blessings you enjoy may be per- 
petuated to coming generations, and Dunbarton continue to 
occupy as now, an honorable and prominent place among her 
sister towns. Never forgetting to inculcate those principles 
and practices, which have brought you into possession of a 
heritage, unrivalled in beauty of scenery, and scarcely equalled 
in fertility and productivenCoS of soil. Remembering, that 
upon the universal prevalence of the truths you have been 
c 



26 

taught, is pending the fulfillment of the promise that the 
time shall come, when the kingdoms of this world shall he- 
come the kingdoms of Jesus Christ. Then shall the inhabi- 
tants of earth celebrate the final victory of truth and human- 
ity over error and oppression, and be responded to by a mul- 
titude of angels with a shout, saying, " Hallelujah, for the 
Lord God omnipotent reigneth." 



The following poem was then pronounced by Henry E. 
Burnham, A. B. : 

In fair Scotia's land of story, 

Near the ocean's swelling tide, 
Stands a castle, grim and hoary, 

By the waters of the Clyde. 

Now the sunlight lingers o'er it. 
You can see its moss-grown walls ; 

See dark chasms yawn before it, 
See its ivj^-mantled halls. 

You can hear the wild winds sighing 
Kouud its old and crumbled sides ; 

Hear the dark waves with them vieing, 
And the deep, resounding tides. 

There it stands like some stern scntiy. 
Born to rule mid wars and strife, 

Guarding well some fatal entry. 
Watching o'er a nation's life. 

Often has the hea-S'y hammer 

Of its tocsin bell been stirred ; 
Often was the battle's clamor 

Through its gloomy portals heard. 

Gruel time's cflacing fmgers 

Have its primal beauty marred ; 
Yet its ancient glor}^ lingers — 

Theme for Scotia's wisest bard. 



27 

'Chance, it may be yoii are asking 
Wlitit's the name this castle bears ? 

Lest your patience I seem tasking, 
ni relieve the querist's cares : 

Close by Lomond's lovely strand, 
You have heard with honest pride, 

Lies our ancient lather land — 
Fair Dumbarton on the Clyde. 

'Neath the shadow of her towers, 
Lived a brave young pioneer ; 

But he left his native bowers, 
And he sought a refuge here. 

He, in later times, reviewing 

Those fair scenes from which he came, 
With fond memories oft pursuing, 

Gave our native town its name. 

Changing now our scene and story 
From brave Scotland's bonnie land — 

From that castle old in glory — 
From that plain by Lomond's strand ; 

Turning from this scene romantic, 
Which our souls with rapture fills ; 

'Cross the waves of the Atlantic, 
Toward our own loved granite hills ; 

Let ITS, other scenes beholding, 
View our own fair landscape o'er — 

All its rural charms unfolding, 
Let us gaze on them once more. 

Here within New Hampshire's border, 
'Mong her mounts which proudlj' rise. 

And in wild, yet grand disorder. 
Lift their summits to the skies ; 

Where dame Nature has presented 
All her loveliness combined ; 

And on people free, contented, 
Has bestowed sweet peace of mind. 



28 

Here Avas onr Dunbarton founded, 
By such sceneries surrounded, 
As tlitit land across the main, 
Whose resemblance gave her name. 

Have you o'er these hill sides wandered. 
With no thoughts inspired anew, 

As in loneliness j^ou've pondered 
On the scenes that met your view ? 

Ere the golden suns declining, 
Ere he bid us his good night, 

While with parting glorj^ shining. 
We will climb to yonder height. 

Looking northward, towering, peerless, 
We can see the white hills rise. 

And their outline, lone and cheerless, 
Painted on the autumn skies. 

What's that shadow reaching nearer ? 

Surely, 'tis not near so large, 
Yet its features we see clearer — 

'Tis the grand old Kearsarge, 

Down whose sides, for distant sweeping. 
Come the wintry northern gales, 

AVhich, with maddened fury leaping, 
Kush across the hills and vales. 

Now the sun's last rays arc playing 

In their mild, etherial light, 
And with fondness still seem staj'ing 

On Mouadnock's lonely height. 

Where no woody hosts surround it. 
Where its summit towers aloft ; 

There the western winds howl round it, 
And the storm-cloud lingers oft. 

Nearer still, two mounds appearing. 
In the twilight radience now, 

Quick reveal through former clearing, 
Uncanoouuc's double brow ; 



29 



From whose heights, far upward soaring, 

Cau he sccu the ocean tides ; 
Though the music of their roaring 

Never reached her verdant sides. 

View these mountains, old, gigantic ! 

See their summits boldly rise ! 
And with grandeur wild, romantic, 

Hold communion with the skies. 

They have stood the shock of ages ; 

They have baffled conquering time ; 
And in vain the tempest rages 

All around their heights sublime. 

Lesser hills we see extending, 
With their garniture of green ; 

And with guardian care seem bending 
O'er the vales which lie between. 

Through each forest height is blowing 
Autumn's cool and genial breeze ; 

While below, the brooks are flowing 
To the music of the trees. 

Near, the feathered throng are singing 
Thi'ough the branches bending now, 

With the fruits of autumn clinging 
To each fair and leafy bough. 

Now this autumn day is ending ; 

Hushed the melody of song ; 
And the farmer homeward wending, 

Plods his weary way along. 

Twilight's pall of grey is sinking 
O'er these hills and valleys green ; 

And in sadness we are thinking 
Of the grandeurs we've not seen. 

But the harvest moon is rising, 

With her soft effulgent light, 
And though silent, seems advising 
Us to leave this gladsome height. 



30 



When the wancVrer, homeward ^rning, 

Gazes on his native hills, 
What strange passions in him burning, 

All his manly bosom fills. 

Now sweet mem'ry brings before him 
All the dearest scenes ol" yore ; 

New sensations stealing o'er him, 
Thoughts of days he 11 know no more. 

'Tis the home his fathers fonnded, 
'Tis the land that gave him birth, 

'lis the spot where childhood bounded 
In the happiest days of earth. 

Some of you who gather with us 

In these festive scenes to-daj'', 
Far from home and friends have wandered 

In life's dark, uncertain way; 

Other scenes have grown familiar. 
And elsewhere your lot is cast ; 

Yet around Dunbarton linger 
Hallowed memories of the past. 

And to-day she has invited 
All her children, far and near, 

Once again to meet together. 
And receive the welcome cheer. 

She has called you from the prairies — 
From the distant western plain ; 

She has called you from the seaside. 
By the broad Atlantic's main : 

From the northern hills and valleys, 
She has summoned you away ; 

And from southern green savannas, 
She has called you here to-day. 

In the city, town or hamlet, 

In the cottage or the hall ; 
In the fields or in the woodlands, 

You have heard her welcome call. 



31 

And you now have come responsive 

To the bidding of her voice ; 
Here to meet in glad communion 

Witli the spirits of your choice. 

Yet we notice many changes — 

Changes ruthless time has wrought, 

As against the world's oppression, 
In life's battle joi\ have fought. 

There are those for whom affection 

Sheds its bitter, burning tear, 
Who in other lands are resting, 

And no more will meet us here. 

There are those around whose pathway 
Cares and sorrows seem to stay ; 

With you, in your gloomy anguish, 
We would smypathize to-day. 

There are some who left us early 
In their noble manhood's prime, 

Whose white locks and faltering footsteps 
Now reveal the march of time : 

You, we meet with dotible greeting. 
You are welcomed here once more, 

To the land that j^ou have honored — 
To the scenes you loved of yore. 

Many of thy sons, Dunbarton, 
In some distant land now roam ; 

Seeking wealth and fitting honors, 
Far from kindred and from home ; 

Some, led on by high ambition, 

Worship at Minerva's shrine ; 
Round whose brows and manly foreheads 

Laurel Avreaths of fame entwine : 

You have walked where science wandered. 
You have yielded to her claims ; 

And in all the noblest callings. 
You have written high your names. 



32 

Soine, as teachers now are guiding 
Youthful voyagers o'er life's main ; 

Some as merchants, too, are striving 
For the fruits of honest gain. 

Others seek to shield the hody 
From its countless, fatal ills, 

Knowing well some panacea. 
In the shape of drugs or pills. 

There are lawyers, learned, skillful, 

In the labyrinths of laws, 
"Whom we see at justice's altar, 

Pleading faithfully their cause. 

Last and noblest now I mention 
Those who toil at heaven's command, 

For man's high, eternal welfare, 
In that distant, better land. 

Thcir's a high and holy mission ; 

Their's to lead the soul away 
From the haunts of low perdition, 

To the realms of endless day. 

Clergy, la"\vj-ers and physicians. 
Who from home have come away ; 

Farmers, teachers and mechanics, 
All are welcome here to-d-aj^ 

There are those who still are dwelling 
Where contented dwelt their sires, 

In whose manly breasts are burning 
All the old ancestral fires ; 

They still love thee, fair Dunbarton, 
Love thy lakelets, brooks and rills — 

Love thy meadows and thy woodlands, 
Love thy ancient rock-bound hills. 

They, with reverence looking backward 
To the daj's of " Auld Lang Syne," 

Wish to honor those Avho dwelt here 
In that grand and olden time. 



83 

Here must we pause, and ask for something more 
Than that poor aid our muse has lent before. 
Apollo, guardian of that sacred band, 
Which yields obeisance to thy wise command, 
Call forth from off Parnassus's fabled height 
Some one who'll guide our weary, wand'ring flight 
Far down the path of each increasing j'ear, 
Until that time our fathers wandered here. 
Thou Muse, inspire these few remaining lines 
With thoughts befitting those of ancient times. 

Swayed by the hour, our minds far backward run 

To when our noble ancestors begun, 

Along these vales and woodland heights to roam, 

And fell the trees to build their forest home. 

Tradition old relates that once there came 

Two fearless huntsmen here in search of game. 

What then would seize their eager, wand'ring o-aze ? 

What scenes enchant them in those olden days ? 

A broad expanse of green first meet their view, 

Reflecting back the sky's o'er arching blue ; 

They saw the stately pine far upward soar 

To meet the storm-cloud often hov'ring o'er ; 

The giant oaks would rear their arms aloft 

To break the winds that howled around them oft. 

They found within this tangled forest shade 

No frienrlly hand to grasp or give them aid. 

Yet wand'ring still beneath the circling trees, 

A meadow waving in the autumn breeze 

Now meets their eager and delighted gaze, 

Far reaching 'neath the sun's inclining rays. 

That meadow where the active beaver reared 

His labored mound and all the forest cleared. 

From neighb'ring heights they view with glad surprise. 

And o'er the prospect cast their wond'ring eyes. 

When now its lovely verdure they discern. 

Its promised wealth invites their quick return. 

They come : there's Putney, Rogers, both of them 

Were nature's bravest, trues"t, noblest men. 

Here let us pause, and with all honor crown 

These noble founders of our native town. 

Each reared his log house near the meadow lawn, 

And fell'd the trees to plant his Indian corn ; 

And though with savage beasts they must compete, 

These patriot fathers loved their lone reti-eat. 



84 

They loved in quest of savage game to roam. 

Or till the land around their cabin home ; 

And often when the evening shadows fell 

Along this dark and lonesome forest dell, 

They loved to gather round their cottage door, 

And talk about the good old days of yore. 

No neighbors then their frugal board would share ; 

No friendly lights would greet their wand'rings there. 

Save heaven's bright orb, that rules the day, 

Or Luna's soft and pale reflected ray ; 

No sound of music, borne by gentle gales 

Was wafted through those lone, secluded vales. 

No friendly shout would bear its gladsome sound, 

No voice familiar break the stillness 'round, 

Save now and then some forest bird would sing, 

And through the wilds his cheering notes would ring ; 

Or when the woods by chainless winds were stirred, 

And notes of plaintive melody Avere heard. 

Yet here they toiled, and all their lives were spent 

In simple luxury and sweet content. 

At times, the roving Indian's piercing yell. 

Upon their ears in wildest accents fell ; 

And when night's darkness hovered o'er these scenes. 

And they retired to sleep and pleasant dreams, 

Strange sounds would break upon the startled aii*; 

The coward wolf, slow creeping from his lair. 

Would howl in chorus with his savage foes. 

And change to quiv'ring fear their calm repose. 

One night, this densely, darkly shaded gleu 

Resounded with the hurried tramp of men. 

From Rumford, many a weary mile away 

They came, to warn them that the comir.g day 

Would bring destruction sad, unless bj' flight 

They hurried back before the end of night. 

These tidings told, they heard with blank dismay. 

And soon went hast'ning on their gloomy way. 

To their loved home, fast fading from their view, 

They turned and bade a brief yet sad adieu, 

Well knowing that the sun might shine no more 

On home, or herds, or trees they loved before. 

At Rumford, there they find a safe retreat, 

And many a friend and grateful kindred meet. 

Returning, they, with bitter anguish found 

Their much loved home a darkly smouldering mound ; 



Their cattle slaughtered by their savage foe, 

And all their fairest, choicest trees laid low — 

Save one alone which long remained to tell 

How its loved comrades of the orchard fell. 

Three years have passed away ; that conquering will 

Which nerved our fathers then, must triumph still ; 

Again the forests fall before the hand 

Of sturdy yeomen born to rule this land, 

And smoke wreaths rise, and darken all the day — 

Befitting pall of forests passed away. 

Again we see the log house rude and low. 

Uplift its front to breast the winds and snow ; 

Again we see each sweetly smiling field 

With willing soil a bounteous harvest yield. 

The brooks are tamed that used to run at will. 

And on their banks they build the lonely mill. 

Before their march the giant forests bow, 

For nature's scepter has departed now ; 

The savage beast creeps farther from his lair, 

And seeks to breath a more congenial air. 

The Indian weeps above his father's mound, 

Then bids adieu to his loved hunting ground. 

All things must now their willing homage pay, 

For man is victor, nature yielding sway. 

Where once the march of progress was defied, 

The district school — New England's boast and pride, 

Now marks the era of those brighter daj-s, 

When education sheds her genial rays. 

And breaks the gloom that far and near 

Encircles ignorance and doubting fear. 

Our pious ancestors did not forget. 

Through all their toils, their God was with them yet ; 

Each day their prayers wei-e heard, and in due time 

They reared a church, religion's sacred shrine. 

Close by, within a lovely chestnut wood. 

This old log church with many a crevice stood. 

In later times another temple rears 

Its solemn front, to count the passing j-ears ; 

To-day, that same old temple meets our view, 

With its plain walls of dark and sombre hue ; 

And as its shadow round us now is cast. 

What thoughts come back from out that distant past ! 

'Tis here you've boAv'd before j^our fathers' God, 

And sought anew the heavenward path they trod ; 



36 

And here you've listen'd to that stern divine, 
Whose honored name will live through endless time ; 
Our saintly Harris sleeps that silent sleep. 
Yet long his living words will menVry keep. 

Thy sons, Dunbarton, are no coward race ; 

They've met the deadliest foemen face to face, ' 

They've fought the Indian in his lone retreat, 

And seen his vengeful, murd'rous legions beat ; 

They stood before that rampart strewn with hay, 

At Bunker's Hill on freedom's natal day ; 

At Bennington their shout of vict'ry rose 

Where conquering Stark beat back our British foes ; 

And later still, across the Mexic plains, 

They followed brave old Scott in his campaigns. 

Insatiate war! thj' guilty, crimson hand 

Had ceased to slay the noblest of the land. 

No sound from fields of dreadful carnage rose, 

Disturbing now our nation's calm repose : 

No bugle call, or roll of martial drum 

Gave warning that the battle storm had come. 

We fondly dreamed of long-continued peace. 

Not thinking then that blissful day would cease. 

The scene is changed — a dark, portentious cloud 

Casts 'round us now its gloomy circling shroud ; 

The pent-up storms of ages are set free 

To sweep destructive over land and sea. 

That grand old fabric which our fathers reared, 

To ev'ry loyal patriot heart endeared, 

Is trembling now before the savage might 

Of fiends incarnate, battling 'gainst the right. 

The southern winds come freighted with alarms, 

And call each truest patriot to arms. 

We saw Dunbarton's bravest sons go forth 

With all those hosts that marshaled from the North, 

Whose solemn vow was registered on high 

To save their periled country, or to die. 

The sky no longer now is overcast, 

That long, uncertain night of gloom has passed. 

And we behold what ne'er had yet been dreamed : 

Our own loved country, disenthralled, redeemed. 

Their work is done — in conflicts fierce, and dark 

The've proved them worthy of the fame of Stark. 

A few return, a shattered, broken few, 



37 

To their old flag they always have been true. 

Let highest honors circle all their ways, 

And music tune her voice to sing their praise. 

The}' have not all returned, alas ! some fell. 

Before the bullet, cannon ball or shell, 

And some who fought where fiercest rolled the tide 

Of battle, b}' some^fell disease have died. 

We think of one who would have graced this scene. 

Of manly bearing and of noble mein ; 

He is not here, brave Caldwell is no more ! 

The scholar, christian, friend, has gone before ; 

To-day, he sleeps beneath a soldier's mound 

In j'onder village-circled burial ground. 

There's one, who in his brief eventful life. 

Had wandered far around this world of strife ; 

We knew his manly, brave, and generous heart. 

And sadly did w^e see our friend depart ; 

Yet Stone has gone, and on a Southern plain, 

He rests to-day among his comrades slain. 

These are not all, as valient and as dear 

Were those we now would sadly mention here ; 

There's Jameson, Barnard, Whipple, Brown and Wate, 

And Baker, Heath, and Simonds, all did fate 

Consign to soldiers' graves, yet leaves them now 

A priceless crown to wreath each soldier's brow. 

Of these brave men, let each and ev'ry name 

Be written high upon the roll of tame. 

They died to save our greatly periled land 

From sad defeat by treason's murd'rous hand. 

As we behold our ransomed country free. 

Remember how they died for you and me ; 

And when, through craven fear or greed of gain, 

We'd bow beneath the tyrant traitor's chain, 

Remember how they fought that valiant fight 

To gain the triumph of eternal right. 

To-day we stand with mingled hopes and fears, 
Beside a Avaymark of departing years : 
A hundred winters swift have passed away, 
Since our Dunbarton saw her natal day. 
Another century has now begun 
Its distant, undiscovered race to run. 
And as time's current swiftly hurries by 
To mingle with Lethean waters nigh. 



38 

Diinbarton ! may thy soul inspiring name 
Grow ever brighter with increase of fame ; 
May all thy sons jjrove noble and as true, 
As those who founded or defended you : 
May all thy daughters, fair and honored, crown 
With myrtle wreaths our own dear native town; 
And may her light, resplendent ever shine 
Along the ages 'till the end of time. 



After the Poem came the Chronicles, bj John C. Ray, Esq. 

Chapter 1st. 

Now it came to pass in the days of Silvanus, the High 
Priest, that certain of his tribe, being moved within them- 
selves to celebrate the one hundredth year of the reign of the 
different rulers of Dunbarton, said. Consider, I beseech you, 
how long we and our fathers have dwelt in this land. Yea, 
even five score years. Now, said Silvanus, the High Priest, 
let us send kindly greeting to those-who were wont to dwell 
within our bounds, to come up to the ancient temple for a 
season of congratulation and festivity. Now this saying 
pleased the people, and they cried out, saying, let it be even so. 

Chapter 2d. 

Then chose they out of the several tribes of the children of 
Dunbarton, these men to make ready for the great feast: Na- 
thaniel, of the house of Joel, a leader of his church and peo- 
ple ; Charles, of the house of Wiiliam, aforetime called 
Captain, and who was wont to marshal certain of his tribe on 
the plains of Goffstown, that they might become skilled in 
the use of arms. • 

Larcom, of the house of Bradford, who divers times has 
represented his tribe in the General Assembly of lawmakers. 

John, a descendant of one whom his people, to distinguish 
from others of like name, were wont to call "hoary" or 
"white-head." 

Enoch, of the ancient house of Benjamin, who is one of the 
fathers of his people. 

Lyman, who, for a time, worthily dwelt in the land called 



39 

Skeeterborough, but is now removed to the home of his fath- 
ers, even unto the land of Mountalona. 

David, the capenter, of the house of Samuel, and near of 
kin to Joseph, who was chief ruler for the space of two years 
over the land of Dunbarton, and all the region around about. 

Thomas, a descendant of John, who was for many years an 
elder of the ancient church of his sect. 

Daniel, who is much venerated for his counsel and wisdom, 
who has longbeen a pillar to liis church, and a guide to his people. 

John, of the house of Silas, this day called to marshal the 
hosts around this ancient sanctuary ; but being a very modest 
man, he said, Pray, have me excused, 

Charles, of the tribe of Ezekiel, aforetime called the ready- 
writer and speaker. 

Leonard, a descendant of Job, who once dwelt in a coun- 
try called the land of eels, otherwise, Derryfield. 

Charles, the carpenter's son, of the house of Samuel, and 
for many years, chief scribe for his people. 

Oliver, the 2d, like his forefathers, a great dealer in cattle 
and other four-footed beasts. 

Eliphalet, who, aforetime dwelt in other lands, and has 
great possessions, both of houses and lands. 

Harris, of the house of Ezekiel, who is tax-gatherer for his 
people, and mucli esteemed throughout the country. 

Leo, the tenth, who once dwelt on the hills of his forefath- 
ers, but is now removed to the valleys of a strange people, 
even unto the borders of Smoky Hollow. 

Henry, the 2d, famed for much learning and witty sayings, 
also as a teacher of the youth of the region round about 
Dunbarton. 

David, of the house of Abraham, a friend to the poor and 
outcast, and who dwelleth near the borders of the land of the 
Uncanoonucs. 

Gilbert, Avho, aforetime dwelt v^^ithin the bounds of Mount- 
alona, being moved within himself to take a wife, he left his 
father's land, and now pleasantly dwells with a fair damsel of 
the house of Benjamin. 



40 

James, the son of Oliver, who sits in high places, and mak- 
eih laws for liis people. 

John, the Baptist, near kinsman to Aaron, and Avho walk- 
eth in the way that seemeth right in the sight of the Lord, 
and of the people. 

Thomas, of the house of Timothy, aforetime a hewer of 
stone, and maker of laws. 

And these were all men of wisdom, and much renown 
throughout the land of Dunbarton ; therefore were they en- 
trusted with this matter. 

Chapter 3d. 

Then assembled these men together in a certain place, that 
they might take counsel with each other, and immediately 
they set about making preparations for this great least. 

Then there were sent forth from the land of Dunbarton, 
scrips of parchment unto all those who once dwelt in this 
land, to bid them come home on this joyful occasion. More- 
over, they removed from the ancient sanctuary many seats 
once occupied by our venerable fathers and mothers, to make 
greater abundance of room whereon to spread the tables for 
the refreshing of the multitudes. And this kindly greeting 
was exceeding welcome to all the- sons and daughters of the 
land, "even a clear springin the desert of life," and as many 
as could, repaired thither. 

Chapter 4th. 

!Now, on the morning of the thirteenth day of the ninth 
month in the reign of Daniel, aforementioned, a vast multi- 
tude assembled around about the ancient sanctuary, to greet 
theiwig absent sons and daughters of the land. Now, after 
^ s^H^n of congratulation, Daniel, the ruler, called with a 
loud voice, saying, listen now, I pray you, while Charles, the 
learned, recounts the history of our tribe, replete Avith joy 
and sorrow. Then a deep silence fell on the vast multitude, 
even unto the end of his words. 



41 

After much speaking by this man, and others of the seve 
ral tribes, with all of which the people seemed well pleased, 
Daniel again cried, saying, come now, ye long absent sons 
and daughters, into the ancient temple, and partake of the 
feast prepared for you, and they did eat, and were all filled, 
and there was taken up of fragments that remained, twelve 
baskets. Now, the rest of the doings of the tribe, will they 
not be recorded in the book of Henry, the Scribe ? 



Next followed the reading of a Centennial Hymn, written 
for the occasion by Mrs. Lavinia H. Pillsbury, of Sutton. 

We may not look into the long past years, 
Whose histories have never reached our ears ; 
Nor scan the centuries when our fathers trod 
Brittania's wilds, and worshiped many a god ; 
Nor scarcely glance at the bright dawn of day, 
When on them shone the gospel's earliest ray; 
When first they heard of Jesus crucified, 
And cast their heathen idols all aside. 

But for this time and place enough to know, 
Here came our sires a hundred years ago. 
They came with stalwart arms and spirits brave ; 
The forests trembled at the strokes they gave. 
Felled are the trees, the cheerful cabins rise, 
And the blue smoke curls upward to the skies. 
Not mansions such as now your hills adorn, 
But cots whose chinks let in the rosy morn. 

Not long content were they to till the sod. 
Till they had built a house to worship Grod ; 
Rude was the structure, brown the boards and bare ; 
Yet thence ascended songs of praise and prayer. 
And scarce a score of years had passed away, 
Ere one was built, now venerably gray ; 
But modern taste chose out another site, 
And now our churches stand in snowy white. 

E 



42 

But outward things form not of grace apart; 
Grod loves the worship of the humble heart — 
The heart where his good word has taken root, 
And bears in its full measure, holy fruit. 
He sent his servants here to sow the seed ; 
With what a fervent zeal did Harris plead 
And Putnam pray, till God to each had given 
Full many a star to gem his crown in heaven. 

In neighboring fields young Wescott broke the soil, 
While others reaped the harvest of his toil ; 
But those who sow, and those who reap, shall meet 
With joy, when earthly labors are complete. 
And while the marble tells where Harris lies, 
And summer suns shine warmly down the skies, 
Hold fast the truths he lived as well as taught, 
Deep in your spirits may they be inwrought. 

Turn not to false philosophy aside, 

Nor hope for heaven but through Christ crucified. 

Who talk of progress, ne'er one step will go, 

Who first regeneration do not know. 

We, who the love of country well have proved, 

By giving our brave sons so dearly loved, 

Who treasured up each kind and loving word, 

Eer they departed, as the last we heard. 

Shall we not prove our love to God as warm. 
Gird on the armor, bravely breast the storm, 
Press to our hearts that precious Book divine, 
Nor for blue lights this glorious sun resign ? 
Not for the generations past alone, 
Did God inspire it, but for this our own, 
And those to come. Its precepts shall descend 
From age to age, till time itself shall end. 

Our sons shall learn it and their children tell 
Their future ofispring to observe it well. 
And if the next Centennial Jubilee, 
Some of our offspring may be spared to see, 
May Peace, Religion, Vii'tue, then o'erspread 
This land for which our sires and sons have bled. 



43 

The following Hymn, written for the occasion by Mrs. L. 
H. Pillsbury, was sung to " The Angel's Call : " 

O Thou, whose care was o'er us, 

When bowed beneath thy rod, 
Whose Angel passed before us, 

" Our God, our fathers' God," 
Accept our thanks and blessing, 

Father, forever kind, 
And let no doubt distressing, 

Disturb the humble mind. 

When on the ocean tossing. 

Thou, Lord, wast ever nigh, 
Our feeble purpose crossing, 

Yet guiding by thine eye. 
Thou bad'st us raise the banner 

For all the poor opjiressed ; 
This was thy chosen manner 

To give thy people rest. 

We thank Thee who has given 

To us this land so fair. 
Now from our hearts be driven 

Each sordid, selfish care. 
Thy mercies we will cherish, 

As on through life we go, 
Nor let their memory perish 

A hundred years ago. 



By this time the congregation 

" Began to feel, as well they might, 

The keen demands of appetite," 
and accordingly adjourned to the interior of the Town House. 
The divine blessing was invoked by Rev. Thomas Jameson, 
of Exeter, after which three houses full in succession were 
supplied with dinner, and yet a large amount of provision 



44 

romaiiied unconsumed. When the first company came out, 
the exercises were resumed at the stand, commencing with the 
reading of a Centennial Hymn, written by Mrs. Achsah M. 
L'aowN, of Loudon. 

A hundred years have passed away 

Since Starkstown claims its date ; 
And many a tale of interest rare, 

I gladly would relate, 
But leave for abler pen than mine 
To be transposed and wrought in rhyme. 

A hundred years ! with solemn tread 

Each year has hurried by ; 
Interrogate those living then. 

No voice would give reply ; 
But in the solemn pause of thought, 
We list' in vain, no tone is caught. 
Silent and cold those men of worth, 
They mingle not in scenes of earth. 
In fancj^ we can see them now 

In places where they trod ; 
They felled the trees, they built their huts, 

And turned the yielding sod ; 
They planted trees and made a home. 

And thought to found a town ; 
But home and hopes l)y adverse fate, 

Alike came crumbling down. 
By savage men with dark intent 

Their settlement was sought ; 
In sudden haste and great alarm. 

They fled to Taimford Fort. 
Their houses were in ashes laid, 

And ruin reigned around ; 
And o'er these hills and through these vales. 

The war-whoop did resound. 
Of all their trees, they spared but one, 

Their hatchets laid them low. 
And that long stood to mark the scenes 

Of a hundred years ago. 
Full many a scion it has spared. 

That this late age might know 
The flavor of the fruit that grew 

A hundred years ago. 



45 

Those men returned, and others came 

And toiled, as time went round, 
Till from a wilderness uprose 

This pleasant rural town. 
Starkstown no longer, but the name, 

Known at the present time, 
Though sounding well in sober prose, 

Is hard to blend in rhj'me. 

And now, to-day, from South and North, 

From East and distant West, 

Her sons returning, joy to meet, 

At this centennial feast. 

The lawyer, doctor, teacher and divine, 

Farmer, mechanic, tradesman, all combine 

To add enjoyment to this festal hour, 

While memory comes with her awakening power. 

Forms of the living past seem here once more, 

As if returning from the far off shore ; 

But in a moment the delusion's fled. 

For they, alas ! are sleeping with the dead. 

Among our learned men, we proudly claim 
Chancellor Hoyt, chei-ished be his name. 
Ot scholarly attainments and large heart, 
In life's great drama acting well his part, 
He bore his honors with becoming grace, 
And asked to be remembered by his race. 
Harris and Putnam, who long years did stand 
On Ziou's watch-tower, one in heart and hand ; 
Burnhams, Mills, Parker, Marshall, Wheeler, Page, 
Jamesons and Putnam acting on life's stage, 
Hayward and Pillsbury now upon the field, 
(A golden harvest may their labor yield !) 
Men of sound principle and moral worth. 
Who've battled nobly in the cause of truth, 
And left an impress on this generation,— 
All honor to their names, their worth, their station. 

Next to divines the doctor stands confest. 
The ablest benetactor of his race and best. 
The names of some we here may well recall, 
But time forbids that we should mention all. 
We'd speak of Clement riding on his nag, 



46 

And just behind him placed his saddle-bag, 

From which he dealt out powders, drops and physic. 

To cure a fever, gout, a rheum or phthisic. 

Stearns was found faithful in " the healing art," 

A man of noble worth and generous heart, 

Gilson and Merrill made but little stay. 

And Colby's found in practice far away. 

Of Mighill we know something from report, 

In practice skillful — skillful in retort. 

And some in dental practice give new grace ^ 

And beauty's finish, to the human face ; 

Prescott and Ryder come in this connection ; 

Their art is verging onward to perfection. 

But in our quiet town, few men there are 

Who in forensic strife can take their share ; 

Story and Biirnham in the days of yore, 

Hadley and Twiss perhaps make up the scoi'e. 

Hadley now fills an editorial chair. 

And sends forth thoughts as free as heaven's own air. 

We have no poet Holmes of which to boast. 

To write a pun or give a sparkling toast ; 

But we've a Bailey in the halls of Yale, 

With force enough of loit to ' • hit the nail." 

We've no arraj' of statesmen to count o'er, 

But we can claim from district No. 4, 

A man to represent us in the Senate ; 

His name to all is known — I need not pen it. 

While learning's laurels some have proudly won, 
Then passed away, life's duties nobly done, 
Others remain to honor their profession. 
Perhaps stand here and list to this confession. 
The " gift of speech" we trust thej^'ll freely use 
To please, instruct, enliven and amuse ; 
From learning's fount present delicious draughts, 
Or strains of wit to make good people laugh. 

Among the past and present of our race. 
Some of heroic name have found a place. 
Those who on Bennington and Bunker Hill, 
Once bravely fought the British foe to quell, — 
Those of the present day who've stood in battle. 
While round their heads the rebel shot did rattle, 



47 



Deserve to be remembered in our story ; 

We'd place upon their heads a wi-eath of glory. 

Caldwell and Stone, who in the sanguine strife 

Of fratricidal war, relinquished life — 

Gave up each manly hope and aspiration, 

To crush rebellion and restore the nation, 

Demand a passing tribute of this hour ; 

So brief our space we cannot give them more. 

The daughters of the town we need not name ; 

They fill an humble place unknown to fame. 

And now, as ever, since the world begun, 

The mother stands reported in the son ; 

And thus it follows as by laws of fate 

The mothers of such sons are good and great. 

But time is precious, and in simple song, 

We glance but brieflj", and then hurry on — 

Give but the outlines and each one at will. 

May take the pencil and the picture fill. 

Hopes of the future, memories of the past. 

Upon the pi'esent hour, their influence cast ; 

May we be wiser, better, stronger made. 

And this day's influence from the heart ne'er fade. 

We stand to-day as never thus before 

A living, acting throng upon time's shore ; 

But long before another century's fled. 

All, all now here will slumber with the dead ; 

Then in assemblage more august and grand, 

Summoned by GabrieVs trumpet, at last shall stand. 



The Toast Master was introduced, and announced the fol- 
lowing Toasts : 

No. 1. Our Centennial Birthday, 

Response by William A. Putney, A. B. 

To-day we are celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of 
our good old town's foundation. A hundred years seem long 
indeed, when taken in connection with mere human events ; 
but a town, though like a man growing in its early years from 
weakness into strength, docs not like him necessarily decline 
and finally become extinct, but when we know that a town 



48 

has safely passed through the vicissitudes of a hundred years, 
and through all taht time has continued to increase in wealth 
and population — then we know that, God willing, she will 
continue to live and prosper for many hundred years to come. 
At first, with difficulty she maintained lier new existence ; but 
growing stronger year by year, and having firmly established 
herself, she began to send her offspring to the aid of others. 
Every year some have left her. Many of these are no longer 
living. Some have died in foreign lands ; some have fallen on 
the field of battle. Many others yet living, have found homes 
in other places, and are bound there by other ties ; but that 
they still retain the memory of their former homes, that she 
has yet a firm hold on their affections, and continues to exett 
an influence upon them, we need no stronger proof than this 
collection here to-day. 

While many thus have left her, many more remained, and 
strove to guard the honor of thoir native town — maintain her 
virtue, and make her worthy of the place she holds in so many 
hearts. Thus they watched her year by year, and saw her 
growing older and stronger, and when she became a century 
of age, they resolved to celebrate her birtliday with all honor. 
This is not like an ordinary celebration, when strangers meet 
to rejoice together over some great and fortunate event ; but 
more like the reunion of some happy family, whose members, 
scattered to the different parts of the earth, have at length re- 
turned to their former home. So to-day, the sons and daugh- 
ters of Dunbarton returning, some of them after an absence of 
many years, are here to-day assembled to talk of the present 
circumstances of each ; the successes they have achieved, and 
the honors they have won. Old friends and old acquaintances, 
old neighbors and old schoolmates, and as each one takes an 
old friend or acquaintance by the hand, the old familiar face 
calls up a thousand recollections of the many days gone by, 
and helps to make his whole life pass before his mind in a sin- 
gle day. Old men talk of old events. Young men listen, 
and as they see what others have done, they are encouraged, 
and resolve to do as well themselves. Our town, though small, 
is not unimportant. We take it as we find it, and we feel 
proud of it. We have seen our victorious soldiers returning 
from the war, and we are proud of them and glory in them. 

We have listened to-day to the efforts of some of Dunbar- 
ton's children, and we are proud of them, and respect them. 
We have seen the varied and extensive preparations made for 
this occasion by the men of Dunbarton, and we are proud of 



49 

them and honor them. We have just partaken of a feast pre- 
pared by the ladies of Dunbarton, and we feel proud of them 
and love them. 

This is the occasion, too, of many other meetings apartfrom 
this grand central one. Many are today, for the first time in 
many years, rejoicing in a family reunion. Many such are 
making happy liearts and homes throughout our town to day, 
and help to add to the advantages and pleasures of this occa- 
sion. But in connection with the happiness pervading every 
heart, comes a slight feeling of sadness as we think that we 
part. " It mayloe for years, and it may be lorever ;" but we 
hope for the best, and though it is not probable, hardly pos- 
sible, that any one now present will attend the celebration of 
our next centennial birthday, still our best wishes will go for- 
ward for the welfare of our native town through all coming 
time, and the best we can hope is, that as much improvement 
may be made in the coming century as we now see has been 
made in the past. 



No. 2. Our Early Inhabitants — May their virtues ever live 
in the character of their descendants and survivors. 

Response by Rev. A. W. Buknham, D. D., of Rindge. 

Mr. President : I am expected to speak of the early in-" 
habitants of this town ; and the intimation is given that they 
were a virtuous people, whose example should be followed by 
their posterity. 

I have not been a resident of this place for nearly three 
score years. In 1808, I exchanged a shoemaker's bench for a 
seat in my brother Abraham's study, (Rev. Abraham Burn- 
ham, D. D.,) and a shoe for a Latin grammar ; so that, as you 
see, my pcrponal acquaintance with the people was in my boy- 
hood ; and I feel but poorly qualified for the part assigned to 
me on this occasion. 

I have in recollection, however, the faces and general ap- 
pearance of several leading families and individuals, who were 
among the early, if not the first, settlers. Of some of these 
I may speak before I close. 

In general character I suppose our fathers were substan- 
tially like all the early settlers of New Ejigland. Part of them 
were of English, and part of Scotch descent, with a few drops, 

F 



50 

perhaps, now and then, of the Irish element. Now, combine 
these, and you will have a good, " live Yankee," such as we 
see here to-day, — rather such as ive, their children, claim to 
be. 

We have good reason to believe, that the fathers and moth- 
ers of this people were of sound, well informed minds, robust, 
sturdy, of indomitable purpose — of high and honest aims — 
noble impulses — fearless of danger, and were just tlie men to 
subdue tins rough land and rugged soil, and to prepare the 
way for the flourishing farms wiiich are now seen around us, 
and to lay foundations for the rich blessings which distinguish 
New England from all other places, and make it, what it has 
been justly called, the " moral garden of the world." 

We, of this generation, are " a feeble folk," and we have 
but a faint conception of the hardships and hazards to which 
our fathers and mothers were subjected in the first half of the 
century, to which this occasion has reference. But they, like 
the Pilgrims in the May Flower, had an object to secure for 
themselves and their children, "freedom to worship God — " 
to establish " a Church without a Bishop, and a State without 
a King." And, conscious of honest and rigliteous aims, and 
relying upon God, they encountered the rocks and trees which 
then covered these hills and valleys, and the savage*^, and wild 
beasts, whicli roamed in these forests, then waving over these 
now cultivated grounds. But, by the help of God, in whom 
they trusted, they surmounted the formidable obstacles around 
them, and left to us the goodly heritage wliich, in spite of the 
efforts of ungodly men to wrest from us, we enjoy to-day. 

As to their moral character — the practice of the cardinal 
virtues of honesty, faithfulness in fulfilling engagements, in- 
tegrity. Sabbath keeping, reverence for the name and all the 
ordinances of God, — J believe they were, at least, on a level 
witli their neighbors in this region, and throughout New En- 
land. 

Of their industry, frugality, and other kindred, social and 
personal virtues, our fathers and mothers were noble speci- 
mens ; and they have left to their children substantial proofs of 
their excellence in these respects, in the rich inheritance you 
possess and celebrate to-day. • 

When I was a boy, and inquired, as I sometimes did, how 
it came to pass that Capt. Stinson was so rich, for he was the 
richest man in town, and I think, was said to be the richest 
farmer in "old Hillsborough," they said, that when clearikg 
his lands, " he would work all day in the field, and weave all 



51 

night," and that his equally industrious helpmeet " would 
spin a fortnight by one pitch pine knot;" and to illustrate the 
same general character of these men, it was said of Abraham 
Burnham, a cooper by occupation, that he '• would sit up till 
midnight, and get up at twelve o'clock." They were not mi- 
serly, yet were saving of time, as well as of money. They 
found no time or disposition to be idle — to loaf. They did 
not know the modern meaning of the word. With them, /oa/ 
was a substantive, and had a wholesome substantial meaning 
in their every day experience. 

It is but just to say, that this working all night, was 
not for " filthy lucre's sake," so much as to fulfil engagements. 
Seldom, indeed, did one neighbor remind anotlier of that sin- 
gular, but significant expression of Soloman — '•'One unfaith- 
ful man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth, and a foot 
out of joint." How it is in this particular with the present 
generation, I have nothing to say ; for I am to speak of the 
old folks, not the children. 

Feeling the groat importance of education by their own 
want of the advantages of schools, the fathers made every 
practicable effort to give their children all the privileges in 
this direction in their power. The earliest school teacher I 
heard of was "Master Hogg,"celebrated for his severities in his 
treatment of erring pupils. On the authority of the late ex- 
cellent Major John Mills, who, I think, had good reason to re- 
member this teacher's method in respect to one class of delin- 
quents, I will state that a lesson from the catechism was then 
exacted of every scholar of competent capacity, to be recited, 
on Saturday. If the scholars failed on that day, he had the 
privilege of trying again on Monday morning. Failing this time, 
the unfortunate delinquent was subjected to a punishment as 
degrading as it was cruel. Should I describe the instrument 
employed, and the position of the unhappy victim in these sav- 
age inflictions, you would not wonder that the boys disliked 
both the catechism and the whipping. In process of time, the 
catechism was whipped out of school, and in these days, the 
children, I apprehend, seldom get either the catechism or the 
whipping. 

To show the value our fathers set upon education, and the 
earnest desire of their children to secure the benefits of 
schools, we need only to refer to the facts then existing — such 
as the thinness of the population, the scantiness of the means, 
the absence of school houses and school books, well qualified 
teachers, &c. For instance, my brother, Samuel, when a mere 



5'i 

child, so small that my mother was actually afraid the bears 
would catch him, came two miles afoot and aloue through the 
woods to this very ground where we are gathered, to attend 
school. Still, she sent him, and the child went. This same 
boy, when a young man went to college the first, I think, that 
did so, from this town. And he fitted for college on i\\Qj)low- 
beam. That is to say, talking his Latin grammar to the field, 
when the team stopped for rest, he sat upon the plowbeam, or 
the unploughed ground, and studied his grammar ; and when 
prepared witli a lesson, he walked over the same ground as in 
his childhood, and recited to his pastor, Rev. Mr. Harris. So 
did Thomas Jameson, Abraham and John Burnham, and other 
young men of tbose, and subsequent days. 

The number of college graduates from this town is, at least, 
forty, and the average population, I believe, less than a thou- 
sand. 

And in this connection, I wish to refer to one of these early 
graduates, because I do not see his name in some lists of the 
educated young men of the place, and who, I apprehend, is 
not recollected except by here and there an individual of the 
people now living. And I speak of him, also, as an illustra- 
tion of the perseverance of these early sons of the town in the 
work of secnring an education. 

I refer to I^-aac (jarvin, the son of Sam Garvin, as he was 
called, who I suppose to have been a poor, insignificant indi- 
vidual, from the fact, that when describing any worthless, 
good for nothing fellow, the people in our neighborhood would 
say, "he is as shiftless as Sam Garvin." As it regards manual 
labor and worldly wisdom, Isaac was the son of his father ; 
but somehow he obtained a Latin grammar, and ventured to 
appear before his pastor, and ask him to hear a lesson. Mr. 
Harris, who encouraged young men in all their efforts in this 
direction, positively refused to hear him recite, bidding him 
"go home and go to work." But Isaac persisted and came 
again, and at length obtained a hearing. 

Tom Merrill, as he was called, a young man from Deering, 
afterward Rev. Dr. Merrill, one of the leading ministers in 
Vermont, and others, fitted and went on, leaving Garvin 
plodding at his task ; and he kept on plodding, and got into 
College ; and at the end of four years, got out lionorably, and 
disappearing from these parts, he went to Newark, N. J. , 
studied Theology with Rev. Dr. Griffin, then at the head of 
American Preachers, came back, and in the presence and the 
pulpit of the venerated pastor, who once refused to hear his 



53 

first Latin lesson, preached to his great satisfaction, and to tlie 
astonishment of the citizens. Thus much for one Dunbar- 
ton boy, and Ae, the son of Sam Garvin — a strong illus^a- 
tion of tlie sayings, "By diligence and perseverance the mouse 
ate in two the cable," and '4ittle strolies fell great oaks ;" — 
also another saying, I think of Richard Baxter — '-Prayer and 
painstaking will do anything." 

As to the civil concerns and order of the fathers, nothing 
definite will be expected from me. I think the people in the 
early years were of a staid, conservative character, not given to 
change. When they found a man qualified, and at the same 
time willing to accept an office, they kept him in as long as they 
could. Tlius, Judge Page, Esquire Story, Maj. Mills, John 
Stinson, Daniel Jameson, John Gould and others, held the 
same offices from ten to thirty years in succession. 

Those were days of honesty and simplicity. For many 
years you had no Lawyer, and only two Justices of the Peace 
in the town. Judge Page, at Page corner, and Esquire Story 
at the South end. You needed no more. 

I ought to speak of the religious character of the fathers. 

It has been said and written that the early settlers leaned 
to Arminianism, a sentiment then somewhat prevalent in this 
region ; but I can scarcely admit this to have been the pre- 
vailing faith of our fathers. In support of this, take the 
Scotch portion of the population who came from Londonderry. 
They believed in the catechism, and the Bible, too, (and so do 
I, though a Yankee ; for I think the two books are very much 
alike in their teachings.) As to the pure Saxon portion — the 
Storys and Burnhams, they came from Ipswich, Mass., — were 
trained under the ministry of Rev. John Cleaveland, one of 
the "New Lights" and able preachers of his day — a disciple 
of Whitefield, and a thorough believer of the Evangelical doc- 
trines. At any rate, our fathers could not have been irrelig- 
ious — nor very strong Arminians — nor bad men in any sense. 
Arminians held to tcorks, the Calvinists to faith and works 
too, and, put them together, and you have a very good people. 

Another point : If not substantially evangelical, would they 
have received for their first Pastor, such a man as Walter 
Harris — celebrated for forty years in all New England, as one 
of the champions of her pulpit — unsurpassed among the 
preachers of his day in a clear statement, powerful defense, 
and pmigcnt application of the peculiar doctrines of the Cal- 
vinistic system, so called. 

He was sometimes called the "Broad ax and the sledge- 



54 

hammer of the New Hampshire ministry," and he did in fact 
cut a way errors in doctrine and practice on the one hand ; 
and on the otlier, beat in the truth till it would "stay put," 
or, he exemplified his own words in giving advice to me, then 
a young preacher — " to hit the nail on the head, then drive 
it through and clinch it." 

But I need not give an account of his beliefs, or his prac- 
tice, his power as a preacher, his great and excellent influ- 
ence, or the blessed results of his ministry. I will take occa- 
sion, however, here to state to this great assembly what Dr. 
Harris did nut believe on one shigle point, on which much 
falsehood has been uttered. 

When I was a young school teacher and was boarding with 
Zachariah Cliandler, Esq., of Bedford, father of Hon. Thomas 
and Samuel Chandler, Esq., I heard this aged gentleman 
say, that Mr. Harris, of Dunbarton, believed and preached 
that all "infants, when they died, went to hell." Did you 
hear him say that, said I. "No, Sir," he replied, but Mr. 
— ;— heard him." And that is tiie shape, by t!ie way, in which 
this statement comes. I have never iViet with the person, 
who said he, himself, heard Dr. Harris, or Dr. Payson, or any 
other Rov. Dr. utter, such a sentiment, but Mr. or Mrs. so 
and so, hoard him. Now it so happened in the orderings of 
Frovidwice, that I passed the next Sabbath in this place, and 
heard Dr. Harris preach a sermon having reference to the 
death of a highly respectable citizen, (Capt. William Parker) 
your father, Mr. President, if I mistake not — from Job, 14, 
10. "But man dieth and wasteth away ; yea, man giveth up 
the ghost and where is lie." In the sermon Dr. H. said that 
it had often been alleged that Calvinists, that he himself, be- 
lieved and taught the doctrine above referred to, and did use 
the horrid phrase, which had been so long in circulation among 
certain classes, that I need not offend this audience by repeat- 
ing it. For himself, and all others justly denominated Cal- 
vinists, he denied the charge. And then, throwing his spec- 
tacles above his eyes, raising his right arm, and assuming an 
expression of countenance, such as no other man I ever saw 
in the pulpit could put on, he solemnly challenged every person 
who had heard him preach during his whole ministry, to show 
that he ever uttered such a sentiment. "Why should I?" 
said he. "Such a thought never entered my heart. I have 
been acquainted Avith a large portion of the Calvinistic min- 
isters of }:iQyf England, and am conversant with their writ- 
ings ; and 1 feel justified in saying that such a doctrine was 



55 

never entertained by them or by the denomination, as such, 
and 1 reject the charge as wholly false ;" and Dr. Harris added 
an earnest exhortation thai all present should never repeat, but 
whenever heard, should contradict the slanderous allegation 
he had denounced. Returning to my boarding place the 
next day, and obtaining the assent of my venerable host, that 
Dr. Harris and myself were honest, I related the facts as just 
stated and exhorted him to do as Dr. H. had enjoined upon 
his people. 

Allow me thus to charge this assembly. I have stated 
facts and you will grant that Dr. H. was honest and the pres- 
ent speaker honest also. Never then repeat the allegations 
referred to. It is a slander. No true Calvinist believes any 
such doctrine. No ! millions upon millions of infant souls are 
to-day, through the grace of God in Christ, in heaven, sing- 
ing "Hozanna to the Son of David." "Worthy is the Lamb 
that was slain and has redeemed us to God by his blood." 
Please accept the declaration I have here made in your pres- 
ence as truth and fact ; accept it for Dr. Harris, and for all 
real evangelical christians the world over. 

I should trespass on time and patience, were I to indulge 
myself in further expressions of my admiration of Dr. Harris 
— the excellence of his character — his singular powers as a 
preacher, and the happy results of his long and faithful min- 
istry among this people. 

I knew your second pastor. Rev. J. M. Putnam, an excel- 
lent man, a devout christian, and good minister of Jesus 
Christ. Also your third and present pastor, the son, as I am, 
of a godly Deacon , and if he uses the office of a minister as 
well as his father has used the office of a Deacon, as I trust 
he will, he too, will "purchase to himself a good degree, and 
great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." 

That our fathers believed and loved the gospel, and the 
ministrations of the Sanctuary, is evident from the early ef- 
forts they made to secure the privileges of public worship, 
and the sacrifices to which they submitted to hear "a gospel 
sermon." For instance — my parents would, and did ride on 
one horse with two children seven miles Sabbath morning 
"across lots,"so to speak, to South Weare, to hear Rev. Amos 
Wood, a well educated and devout minister of the Baptist 
denomination. So highly did they esteem him, that they 
gave me his name. I never saw thc^ood man, but when in 
(Jollege, I found and now have a printed Election Sermon 
preached by him at Amherst, 1794, when John Taylor Gil- 



56 

man took his seat, the first time, as Governor of this State. 

Allow me to refer, briefly, to some of the families and indi- 
viduals who come within my own recollection. 

The Stinsons. — Capt. William Stinson was of Scotch de- 
scent, a pattern of industry, economy, uprightness, and other 
kindred virtues ; esteemed a christian — a cheerful supporter 
of the gospel, and constant attendant on public worship at 
home, though he joined the church in New Boston, because, 
I believe, Dr. Harris was unwilling to baptize the good man's 
grandchildren on the faith o^iXxQw f^r and father. 

Capt. Stinson had some peculiarities as well as other peo- 
ple. The bottle in which he carried rum into the field for his 
men, was said to have so small a passage in the neck, that a 
man would not like to hold it to his mouth so long as to get 
enough to hurt him. Besides, tlien^ the liquor was the gcna- 
ine article. What it is noiv., I do not know ! 

At the call from the house for meals, every man must in- 
stantlij leave his work, and move for the table, and there he 
would find everything ready, and thus no time was lost either 
in the field, or house. 

Capt. Stinson had one price for the produce he sold, and 
this, on the average, was less than that in the market. Three 
shillings, I think, for corn, and four for rye. He was kind to 
the industrious poor, but to a lazy man he would not even 
sell. It was said that a man of this latter class, of whom he 
had heard, but not seen, came to buy some corn. His name 
was Cox. On the way to the granary, the old gentleman in- 
quired — "And what's your name?" "Cox," was the answer. 
"Aye, Cox ? An ye' may cock alang hame again, for you'll 
ha' nae corn the day." 

One more anecdote in which Capt. S. had concern, will 
show the differences in the matter of alms-giving, between 
those days and our own. 

Dr. Harris preached a sermon in reference to the establish- 
ment of the N. H. Missionary Society — then, a new, and to 
many, a strange movement. The good pastor a^ked for a 
contribution. After the hats had been passed, Capt. Stinson 
rose and asked and obtained leave to speak. He felt some 
objections, but having "freed his mind," he said to my father, 
"Here Deacon," and dropped into the hat a silver dollar. It 
fell heavily among the small bits which olliers had put 
in, and jjroduced a greater sensation in the assembly, and more 
remark in the community, than would fifty dollars given now 
by a man of equal property. 



57 

I well remember his son, Capt. William Stinson, Jr., gen- 
erally called "young Capt. Billy" — also "Major" John, a well 
educated, man, and mucii employed in the concerns of the 
town — who was selectman twenty-three years, according to 
Mr. Stark, to whose history of Dunbarton, by the way, I am 
indebted for some figures and facts. 

The Starks and Stinsons were intimately connected in their 
family relations. 1 recollect jMaj. Caleb Stark, a son of Gen. 
John, and on his staff in the Revolutionary war. For many 
years he was the only store-keeper in town. A man of gen- 
tlemanly bearing, and of distinction here and elsewhere. 

I should have mentioned two brothers of Capt. Stinson, the 
elder, "Uncle Jamie," and "Uncle Archie," as tliey were fa- 
miliarly called. Jeremiaii, son of "Uncle Archie," was the 
only lawyer that ever resided and practiced in town. Like 
the p oople in Rindge, where I have lived more than forty years, 
you have not quarreled enough to maintain a lawyer. 

I recollect Judge Page — a very quiet, sensible man. I 
used to see his venerable form by the side of the Moderator 
in the town meetings, having on his head a high, conical, 
green worsted cap. 

I have very distinct recollections of David Story, Esq., a 
near neiglibor and relative of my father, and a head man in his 
neighborhood, and in the town for many years. Dr. Harris 
pronounced him among the best citizens, and the best magis- 
trate within his knowledge. Of a sound and well balanced 
mind, looking well to the interests of the town, and acting al- 
ways according to his convictions of duty, he was a leader in 
all public affairs for the substance of his business life. He 
was seventeen times Moderator in town meeting — Town Clerk 
eleven years — Selectman, six — and Representative six times. 
Many thought he liked authority. One transaction which 
I witnessed when a boy had a bearing, perhaps, in this di- 
rection. At a common training on this Common, Samuel 
Lord, an intemperate man, made some disturbance. Esq. 
Story ordered the Sheriff, Josiah Bagley, to tie Lord's hands 
together, and fasten the cord to a limb of a low tree. It 
could not hurt, but only confined him to one spot. He stood 
fair and firm on his feet. Some one or more persons, for 
sport, or some other purpose, set David Clifford, a man not 
overstocked Avith sense, to cut the cord and release Lord. He 
did so, and then the Sheriff ran after him, using his whip on 
poor Clifford's back. Next followed Jonathan Clifford, Da- 
vid's brother, a man weighing aa much as the Sheriff and the 



58 

culprit both, to rescue his brother from the hands of the offi- 
cer. How the matter was settled, 1 do not recollect, but I 
think, however, that the good Justice ordered Lord back to 
the tree, tied him for a short time so that the law should tri- 
umph and then let him loose. Whether he transcended his 
powers in this case, I know not. I tlien supposed he was 
right, and intended, as was the way in those days, to main- 
tain the peace, not by letting the wicked run at large, but by 
executing the laws. 

Esq. Story was a man of rather impressive presence. We 
boys thought so. As the custom then was, we made our bows 
to every passer by, whether inthe road, or around the school- 
house. In this matter, we were very exact when Esq. Story 
passed on his stately horse with whip in hand in perpendicu- 
lar position. We felt honored by his invariable response 
"brave boys — brave scholars." This reference recalls a state- 
ment I read a few years since of the late Hon. Edward Ever- 
ett. It Avas to this etlect ; I and Hon. R. C. Winlhrop were 
riding together, and as we approached a school house and the 
boys at recess, I said to Mr. Winthrop, "we shall see whether 
these scholars will treat us, as you and I did when we Avere 
boys at school. We passed them and instead of a respectful 
bow^ we were treated with a shoiver of snoivballs.'^ 

The Mills family was large and respectable. Maj., after- 
wards Deacon, the successor of my father in that office, 
was among the most prominent and honored citizens of his 
day. He was Representative eight years — Selectman twen- 
ty-two — and Town Treasurer, thirty-five years. Mr. Stark 
says, "The Mills family were staunch old fashioned Federal- 
ists." Very good, in my judgment, none the worse for that. 
So was my venerated father, and David Story, and in essen- 
tial principles, so were, and are, my fathers children and 
grandchildren. 

Of later times were John Gould, Daniel Jameson, William 
Parker, Deacons Alexander Wilson, McCurdy and others of 
my schoolmates too numerous to receive particular notice. 
" All honorable men." 

On an occasion like this it will not be indelicate in me to 
say a few words relative to the Burnhams. They came from 
Ipswich, Mass., Chebacco parish, the hive of all of the name. 
Nathan, Asa, and Thomas — brothers, and Abraham, John, 
(familiarly called "Friend Johnny,") and Samuel, cousin to 
John. The wives of David and Daniel Story were also Burn- 
hams, sisters to Abraham. They were all respectable and 



59 

useful citizens, and have left good families, and I am happy 
to see so many of the name here present, and to know that 
so many have proved themselves worthy of the confidence of 
their fellow citizens. I would like to be more definite in re- 
gard to the Burnhams, for I happen to be better acquainted 
with them than with those of any other name. 

I Avas born and brought up in the midst of that cluster of 
Burnhams, natives of the same place and settlers in one neigh- 
borhood in the beautiful southern section of this town. There 
our fathers lived and labored, and brought up their families, 
and there they, and some of the second, third and fourth gen- 
eration have died. And the last but two of Samuel Burn- 
ham's children, my last surviving brother, Bradford, has just 
passed away. 

I ask leave here to state a few facts in the family of my 
father, Samuel Burnham, bearing on the covenant faithfulness 
of God, and the duties and privileges of a truly pious family. 

Descended from a pious ancestry, themselves godly, my 
parents brought up thirteen children (two others died in infan- 
cy) "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Of these, 
twelve were decidedly pious ; of the grand-children, (and the 
number was below the average) thirty were pious ; and three 
of the great-grand-children are hopefully pious. Ol the seven 
sons, four had a collegiate education, (Dartmouth College) 
two of whom were afterward ministers, (Abraham and Amos 
W.) one was a lawyer, (John) and one a teacher (Samuel.) 
Of the grand and great-grand-children, fourteen have grad- 
uated from college, or are now members of college, thus 
making a total of Collegiates of this family, eighteen. Of 
the grand-children, three are preachers, and of the great- 
grand-children, one ; making a total of seven ministers in 
the family, of whom four or five are now preaching. Those 
not professors of religion, have held, and are now holding 
respectable and useful positions in the community, and ready 
to fulfill all the duties of an American citizen. 

A wish has been expressed that the descendants of the early 
settlers should imitate their virtues. As one of the descend- 
ants of our worthy ancestors, I heartily join in this sentiment. 
] rejoice that while almost all of my youthful associates have 
long since passed away, I have been spared and am allowed to 
see this day, and to be present on this occasion. It is a celebra- 
tion of deep interest to each and all of us who stand here in the 
stead of the fathers, and are to give shape to the character and 
destiny of coming generations. 



60 

The fathers laid the foundations in securing for themselves 
and their ciiildren the blessings of an open Bible, and free 
schools, Tliey established the cliurch and school-house, and 
having trained us under the wholesome influence flowing from 
christian homes and institutions, they left us in the quiet pos- 
session of this goodly heritage. While you welcome all the 
improvements of the present age, you will do well to heed the 
injunctions, "stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old 
paths, whore is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall 
find rest for your souls." 

"Now the God of peace, that brought from the dead our 
Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood 
of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good 
work to do his will, working in you that wliich is well pleasing 
in his sight, through Jesus Christ ; to wliom be glory forever 
and ever. Amen." 



No. 3 -The Religious Institutions of Duubarton ; — their in- 
fluence in molding the character of her people. 

Response by Rev. George A. Putnam, of Yarmouth, Me. 

Friends and Fellow Citizens : — I am sorry that I, and not 
another, must answer to the present call. The subject on 
which I am to speak, was assigned to ray father, who was 
himself, for more than thirty years, a very prominent and im- 
portant part in the religious history of this town, and he, per- 
haps, of all men living, should speak to this point. 

It is a greater sorrow to my father than to you, that he 
cannot be with you to-day ; but his strength, gradually failing 
from year to year, is just now scarcely equal to its average, 
and the journey here, and the excitement of this glad day, 
would be more than he could safely endure. At first he de- 
cided to send you a letter, but afterwards it occurred to him 
that perhaps I should be better than a letter, so he sent me ; 
and glad am I to be with you. 

As I look over this town, and observe its hills and valleys 
teeming with so many signs of industry and thrift; as I see 
the prosperity that attends the hu.'^bandman ; as I look upon 
your noble farm-houses and your substantial barns that once a 
year are so bountifully filled from these well cultivated acres, 
and remember that it is written in the Bible, "Godliness is 



61 

profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now 
is, and of that which is to come," I cannot but feel that your 
prosperity in secular affairs is, in some sense, perhaps not very 
remote either, a beneficial result of religious institutions. 

But Dunbarton has some characLerislic points to which I 
would call your attention. 

As widely as it is known, it is noted for its sobrielj/ and sta- 
hility. Like these hills on which you tread, do you, the inhabi- 
tants of this town, abide tlie same. Of all people, you are the 
last to run after a rushlight, or to be wheeled aboui by every 
wind that blows. You walk straight on, guided only by the 
calm and certain light of day, and it must be a stiff breeze 
that will turn you from your course. I find the origin of this 
in religious training. Others have taken you back a full cen- 
tury ; I will not ask so much. Go with me seventy-five years 
into the past, and look upon that man whom this people had 
the good fortune to choose as their first pastor^ Rev. Tf alter 
Harris. 0, how much depends, in every new country, upon 
the first pastors ! Their power to mold, to give color and di- 
rection to chara'cter, is wonderful — almostjOmnipotent. Why, 
sometimes we find a town where the first minister trained the 
people to uneasiness and jealousies; to contention and quar- 
relsomeness, and it has never worked out of them ; it is their 
characteristic to-day. This quarrelsome disposition runs in 
their blood, and lurks in their bones ; and, like certain troub- 
lesome diseases in children, breaks out periodically ; and, if 
you know their history, you can predict, with wonderful ac- 
curacy, just how often they will be assembling an ecclesiasti- 
cal council to settle their difficulties. 

But this is not Dunbarton's characteristic. Mr. Harris gave 
no such training. He was a man who had wisdom in his head, 
and principle in his heart. He was marked by a high order 
of intellect, great rectitude and firmness, — great strength and 
decision of purpose ; and, with his ardent temperament and 
deep toned piety, he impressed himself upon the people. He 
made his characteristics theirs. 

He found the people here with vague, diverse and unset- 
tled opinions on religious topics, and it needed a master mind 
to indoctrinate them, and unite their hearts to walk in the 
right way. And he liad that master mind. He saw what was 
needed, and at once planted himself on those great doctrines 
that constitute the frame-work of Christianity ; those great 
doctrines that are the life and marrow of the gospel — God's 
sovereignty, man's depravity, salvation through the blood of 



62 

Christ, by the effectual working of the Holy Ghost. Stand- 
ing on this foundation, he preached. He scattered the seeds 
x)f these truths broadcast over the town, with a liberal hand 
whicii he never withheld. And they germinated, sprung up and 
bore fruit that is visible here at the present time. It was then 
that the people learned soberness and stability. Trained by 
such a leader for more than forty years, what wonder these 
have been, and are now, your characteristics ! To day, it is 
known in all the regions round, that the church here is sound 
in the fiith, and loves the strong meat of God's word ; that 
the people here are stable, sober, honest — hating shams and 
quackery^ either in medicine, politics or religion. Heresies 
could never flourish here. It is poor soil to grow courts and 
councils on. Why, there was but one ecclesiastical councilin 
this town for seventy year&^, and that to dismiss a minister who 
had worn out his life upon the ground, and install his successor, 
while some of your neighboring towns are able to count two 
or three councils to every decade. You have had so few, that 
were it not for your superior intelligence, you would not know 
how to call one, — to your honor be it spoken. 

You have an honesty and love of principle that bids the 
pettifogging pohtician beware how he deals with you ; you 
have a firmness and invincibihty, absolutely provoking to one 
who would convert you to some new doctrine, and cannot. 

These are worthy traits of this honored town, and are as 
certainly the fruits of religious training, as the apple is the 
fruit of tlie apple tree. 

Dunbarton has another characteristic I am proud to speak 
of It is one of the most intelligent and best educated com- 
munities in New England. There is more general knowledge, 
more religious knowledge, more cultivated mind liere, than is 
wont to be found in towns of this size. I think it will be hard 
to find another place, whore, in proportion to the population, 
so many young men have been liberally educated, and entered 
some of the learned professions ; where so many young men 
and young ladies have become first-class teachers of common 
schools. My own observation has been altogether in favor of 
Dunbarton in this particular. And that the root of the tree 
bearing such fruit as this is religious training-, none can doubt 
who has intelligence concerning the ecclesiastical history of 
this people. It was from the pulpit that the people learned 
the vast importance of knowledge, both religious and secular. 
Tlie origin of all those efforts they have been willing to make 
tiiat their offspring might be educated, is found in a deep re- 



63 

ligious conviction of responsibility to God and duty to iho 
child, in tliis particular thing. 

And here again do we come upon the direct influence and 
agency of Dr. Harris. He systematically visited the common 
schools, and stimulated parent and teacher and pupil. He, 
himself, prepared many young men for college, and conducted 
the theological studies of many fittiiig for the ministry. My 
father also followed the lead of Dr. Harris in this matter of 
regularly visiting the schools, for more than twenty years, al- 
ways giving a healthful impulse to every educational interest. 

It is clear as any historic fact, that the superior education 
of Dunbarton's children, has been due very much to her re- 
ligious institutions and christian teachers. 

And here 1 might stop, did not the light of peace, that to- 
day streams broadcast over the land, remind me of the dark 
night that has just vanished, and the sad war our nation has 
passed through. 

If we go back to revolutionary times, we find that foremost 
among the patriots were the chaplains, clergy and christians 
of that pej'iod. The religious element constituted one of the 
chief features of the Revolution. The ministers taught pat- 
riotism, and marked out the duties of the people. They 
preached the doctrine of freedom and the duty of resistance 
to tyrants ; and it was their voice, more than anything else, 
that roused the people to defend their homes, as a christian 
duty, and plant here a nation on the principle of equal rights 
and political liberty. 

In this early struggle, Dunbarton was not behind her sister 
towns. She entered it with ardent zeal. Under the banner 
of Stark, — a historic and honored name with us — her sons 
fought sternly at Bennington. Bravest of the brave were 
some of them, and foremost in the tight ! In the darkest hour 
of that dark day, Dunbarton was struggling to fill her quotas 
and furnish men to push the fight to its successful issue. 

And in this last sad war, of four years past, you have not 
stained your ancient name. Your record is good, — showing 
that the blood of '76 still runs in your veins. You have been 
represented in the rank and file of our army, as well as in the 
list of officers. Some of her noblest sons has Dunbarton laid 
upon the altar of her country, and there they have been offer- 
ed up. 

Now, out of what soil has grown this patriotism and phi- 
lanthropy ? From the beginning of this town's history till 
now, your pastors have been patriots^ true as steel. Year by 



64 

year, these doctrines have been preached to you, ringing out 
from the pulpit HI no uncertain sounds. The first and great 
con:imand has been put first, but the second, which is like unto 
it, has ever followed hard after. The best energies of your 
ministers have been exerted to teach you to love liberty, and 
hate slavery ; to love man, as man, and because he is a man, 
and hate and aivay ivith, all caste and aristocracy. One thing 
is certain : if the pairiotism and philanthropy of the people is 
not due largely to the patriotism and philanthropy of the pul- 
pit, for lo ! these seventy-five years ! Then much precious seed 
has been scattered here for nought. I cannot believe it. Nay, 
I reckon your sobriety and stability, your great intellig-ence 
and consequent honor ; your love of man, and love of coun- 
try, — as largely the beneficial result of your religious institu- 
tions. This town Avas early baptized into these things, and in 
them, by her christian teachers, she has been nurtured ever 
since. 

And now, one hundred years hence, and where shall all 
this throng that now surround me be gathered? When Dun- 
barton's children shall come up to her tivo hundredth anniver- 
sary where shall we be who now stand upon these pleasant 
heights and look out upon these beautiful scenes ? "All that 
tread this earth shall then slumber in its bosom." Heaven 
grant that we who depart, may ascend to a higher and better 
life, to scenes more beauteous far than these ; and that our chil- 
dren, and our childrens' children, may at last be gathered with 
us, and the sainted fathers who have gone before us, in the cir- 
cle of the redeemed, in the paradise of God. 



No 4. The Former Ministry of the First Congregational 
Church — Dr. Walter Harris and Rev. John M. Putnam. 
Response by Rev. L. S. Parker of Derry. 

Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of Westminster Abbey, 
has this inscription over his grave : "If you ask for his mon- 
ument, look around." The structure was his best memorial. 
To a large extent Dunbarton, as it was and is, stands as a 
proof of the influence of these two men. Of this fact we have 
had striking evidence to-day. Every address, poem and prayer 
has made distinct reference to the debt the town owes them. 



65 

As wise master builders, the one lays the foundations, tlie oth- 
er carries up the temple of God. For their respective works 
they were fitted by several points of likeness and unlikencss 
in their nature and training. Dr. Harris was physically com- 
pact, of very commanding presence. The impression he made 
upon my heart in childhood wn^^t/iat God AbnlglUy vjas first, 
and Dr. Harris vjas second. Mr. Putnam was of a delicate 
frame, and was often like Baxter, subject to infirmities that 
would have laid aside many men. Eatfh was the son of a 
praying mother. It is recorded as the habit of Dr. Harris's 
mother, to place her hands on the heads of her fatherless boys, 
and thus oifer the family prayer. The mother of Mr. Putnam 
we knew as one who brought forth fruit in old age. There 
was a marked ditfercnce in the exercises of these servants of 
Christ in conversion. Dr. Harris had emphatically a "law 
work." He had a fearful struggle and agony that sometimes 
brought him to the borders of total despair. Mr. Putnam was 
led more gently to the Savior. The effects of this variety were 
seen in their sermons and wholf^ ministry. It was wise, it was 
providential, that he should thus differ from his predecessor, 
that the benefits of both forms of presenting the truth might 
be here felt. 

Both were good citizens, the friends of letters, thorough 
patriots. Dr. Harris in respect to his farm, buildings, fences, 
was a model for the town. Said an aged man to me lately — 
a neighbor of mine in Derry — "I worked for him in 1809 ; he 
was the best man I ever served." Before school committees 
existed, he was the volunteer inspector of the schools. How 
well he knew the art of "putting things," some of us vividly 
remember. A soldier of the Revolution, his only brother hav- 
ing fallen at his side in battle, he loved his country, he loved 
liberty with an intensity inspired by such an experience. 
Trained in more peaceful times, Mr. Putnam proved himself 
the worthy successor of such a man. Each has a record to 
which we can point at this time without a blush. Both were 
most happy in their domestic connections. Dr. Harris was 
thrice married. His first wife — the mother of his children — 
died before my recollection. She is highly spoken of. The 
praise of his other wives is on all tongues. The last yet lives 
at a great age.* 

Mrs. Putnam was a woman of rare piety, living to do good. 

Both were remarkable extemporaneous speakers. The 
compass of Dr. Harris's voice was extraordinary. He was 

* She has since died at Manchester, Januarj- 1800, aged 90.— (Ed.) 
H 



66 

a perfectly natural orator. His pathos could not well 
be surpassed. Mr. Putnam was one of tlie best platform 
speakers in liis profession in tlie State. Both were revival 
men in the best sense. Dr. Harris began his ministry under 
serious disadvantages. For forty years the town had had very 
little preaching. The church just formed consisted of but ten 
members. But the hero of the Revolution was not the man 
to be dishearteiicd. In a year or two the Spirit came, and a 
multitude were converted to Christ. In 1816 another heav- 
enly refreshing was enjoyed. And in 1826, near the close of 
his active pastoral life, a mighty work of grace was wrought. 

A few months after Mr. Putnam's installation, a most won- 
derful outpouring of the Spirit of God was granted. That 
scene in the old church can never be forgotten. In gentler 
measures from time to time tlie same blessings came, till a 
short period before he retired from his pastorate, another pre- 
cious Divine awakening was experienced, bringing into the 
church the flower of the young men of the society. More than 
anything else, these revivals have stamped its character on 
Dunbarton. 

Both laid down their charges from choice, through infirmity, 
with the warm regard of the people. The one is not, he went 
to his rest twenty years ago. The other still lives, cherished 
by filial love. While the former lived, the harmony between 
them was delightful to witness. Mr. Putnam testifies in his 
funeral discourse after. Dr. Harris's death, that he had been 
everything to him that he could ask. And we all know that 
he honored Dr. Harris, even as a son honors his father. 

I indulged a hope under Dr. Harris's ministry, and came 
into the church under Mr. Putnam. Thus tenderly related 
to both, the friend of both, I lay this small tribute as a wreath 
of olive on the grave of the one, and on the aged brow of the 
other, of these honored ministers of Christ. 



67 

No 5. Our Native Ministry. 

Response by Rev. (Jaleb Mills, Prof, in Wabash College, 
Crawfordsville, Indiana. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Natives of Dunbarton, resident and 
non-resident : It would have been to me a matter of great 
gratification to be present and participate with you in the fes- 
tivities of this Centennial Celebration. I should have enjoyed, 
in a high degree, the pleasui-e of a personal interciiange of 
social greeting with the associates of my early years and ma- 
turer life, now gathered both from our native hills and the 
more distant abodes of their emigrant homes ; but that satis- 
faction I must forego for reasons unnecessary now to specify. 
Had the sul»ject of this celebration been ventilated twelve or 
fifteen months ago, the number of absentees would have been 
greatly lessened, and the responses from those providentially 
absent would have been more numerous. Here let me sug- 
gest for the consideration of the committee of arrangements 
for the next celebration, that, when "Dunbarton sends greet- 
ing to her absent sons and daughters and bids them all come 
home" in 1965, she gives them, at least, a twelve months' no- 
tice of her maternal wishes and their corresponding duties 
and obligations in the premises. 

The century, whose close we celebrate to-day, commemora- 
tive of the incorporation of our native town, has been one of 
wonderful development and deliverance in the history of our 
country — too great not to be recognized, and too important 
to be passed without devout thanksgiving to their Divine Au- 
thor. Let this day, therefore, be one of joyful thanksgiving 
for the past and present, and of noble and generous purpose 
for the future, in regard to the highest welfare of both our 
native town and beloved land. Let us thank God for the de- 
liverance and triumph which He granted to our lathers at the 
openings and to us at its close. 

It is a remarkable fact that our fathers, in less than ten 
years after the incorporation of their town, were summoned, 
by the battle of Lexington, to the defense of their country 
against British oppression. Their response was a noble one, 
for Stark, in his "History of Dunbarton," gives the names of 
thirty-seven, who served their country in the Revolutionary 
War. Among those names will be found the representatives 
of the most substantial families of the town, as the Stinsons, 
Pages, Starks, Mills, Hammonds, Putncys, Buntcns, Lords, 
Baileys, Beards, Holmes, McCurdys and McColleys. Several of 



68 

tlicse volunteers were minors. Two of tlicse wlio were in the 
battle ol Bunker Hill — John Mills and Caleb Stark — were 
mere youths, the former was in his nineteenth, and the latter 
in the sixteenth year of his age. Whether Dunbarton's re- 
cord, in the second struggle for civil liberty and true democ- 
racy, just closed so triumphantly, is as brilliant and patriotic, 
1 know not. ])ut if the lunne residents have done as well as 
some of the foreign, as illustrated in the case of the descend 
ants of three brothers, sons of one of the branches of an old 
family represented at Bunker Hill and Bennington, who fur- 
nislied no less \\mn fourieen sons and grandsons for the glori- 
ous conflict of the last four years, Dunbarton of I8G0 has 
nothing to fear in comparison with Dunbarton of 1775. That 
contribution was not a bloodless one, for Jive of the fonrteen 
lie in a soldier's grave. Our historian also states that Dun- 
barton furnished but one Tory in the Revolutionary War, and 
it is to be hoped that, in the slaveocratic rebellion, she has 
not had a larger number of rebel sympathizers. 

The developments in the physical appearance of the town 
during the first century of its existence would appear strik- 
ing, indeed, could we have a photographic view of the farms 
which our grandfathers opened, the roads they traveled, the 
liouses they built and the forests through which they pursued 
the game, and their children sought the chestnuts in 1765, 
and a similar view of the corres])onding ol»jects, which 1865 
would present. Few traces of resemblance would be discov- 
ered even in the natural ol)jects modified and changed by cul- 
ture and transformation. Hills, then covered with forests con- 
cealing their configuration, how denuded of their primeval 
ornaments, are dotted over with fields and orchards and farm 
houses. The first edition of dwellings, in which the original 
settlers reared their families and taught their children to love 
their country better than party, has passed away, and even 
the sites of many of thera are now unknown. The roads, 
then few and of a primitive character, now, by relocation, 
multi])lication and improvement, woukl greatly mystify the 
tojjographical knowledge of the early settlers. But I will not . 
enlarge on these points, lest I should trench on some other's 
theme, for I must hasten to the topic assigned me, viz : "Dun- 
barton's quota of college graduates and professional men." 

Here 1 must confess a slight change of pi'ogramme, for hav- 
ing had a part of the loaf assigned me, I have taken the lib- 
erty to ai)pro])riate the whole to my use on this occasion. 
Whether it will Ije deemed grand or petty larceny, I cannot 



69 

say, but I will make a full confession of the facts, and throw 
myself on the clemency of the court before which 1 stand. 
Having been requested to give a sketch of the ministerial 
graduates from Dunbarton, I found tliat but twcrhwd fnnshed 
their ministry, ami that of tlie surviving, ])robalily all but two, 
would be present, and therefore 1 took the liberty to make 
the change above stated. 

A centennial celebration, like the blooming of a century 
plant, can be witnessed only by a few of every third generation. 
While some may admire the beauty and enjoy the fragi'ance 
of the q\ieen of the floral world, others may gather up and 
consider the lessons of wisdom and warning, which a century's 
experience sends down the stream of time, for the admonition 
or imitatioii of all whose barks are floating on its silent and 
resistless tide to the boundless ocean of immortality. Such is 
the privilege of all participating in this celebration. Lot us 
contemplate one of these lee^sons so productive of good, and 
so suggestive of the life and labor of one gone to his rest. 

An earnest zeal and a corresponding effort to promote the 
cause of popular education, characterized the first settled 
minister of Dunbarton, whose pastorate extended over forty 
years. His labors in this department gave, in a greater or 
less degree, development and shape directly to the character 
of parts of three generations, and indirectly, more or less, to 
their descendants. He took a deep and lively interest in all 
the district schools, and probably not an individual went from 
this town to an academy or college, who was not indebted to 
him for the initial idea or subsequent encouragement. This 
hearty sympathy with the tyro in his initial essays and the 
student in his academic and collegiate course was shown by 
his semi-annual visitations of the common schools during the 
entire period of his pastorate. Dr. Harris performed this 
labor of care for a series of years without any public thanks 
or remuneration, and it was not till near the close of these 
self-imposed labors that the people bethought themselves of 
the obligation of gratitude and compensation. While the 
catechetical exercises connected with these visitations evinced 
his interest in moral training of the pupils, and the persever- 
ing inculcations of such a form of sound words, embodying 
the fundamental doctrines and duties, for our belief and prac- 
tice, left an ineffaceable impression on the youthful part of his 
charge, he always manifested a lively sympathy in the strug- 
gles of youthful intellect, and bestowed on the diligent and 
deserving the stimulus of his appreciating smile and approval. 



70 

Herein lay, in no unimportant sense, the secret of that power 
which ho possessed and employed in mohling tlie moral and 
literary development of the people of Dunharton. The pow- 
er of such uucomcious luUiuti may, nevertheless, he seen and 
distinctly traced in the character of not a few of the gradu- 
ated sons of Dunharton. 

Nothing is more striking in the history of our notivetown, 
during the century that this day completes, than her gener- 
ous appreciation of sound learning, shown in the number of 
her sons who have enjoyed the advantages of a collegiate, 
and of her daughters who have been trained in academic 
institutions. Introductory to a sketch of the former, the 
appropriateness of the above allusions to the labors and influ- 
ence of the venerable Gamaliel, long since passed to his re- 
ward, and at whose feet many of us sat in early life, will 
appear too pertinent and just to be questioned by the ad- 
vanced portion, at least, of this audience. Two years after 
his ordination, the first native graduate of the town, entered 
Darmouth College, rendering it very probable that he fitted 
under Dr. Harris's tuition, and went forth from that institu- 
tion to the life mission of an academic teacher in 1795, just 
thirty years after the incorporation of the town, while the 
people were struggling with the difficulties incident to a new 
settlement and tlie necessities of young and growing families. 
Such were the times and circumstances of the entrance and 
graduation of the first native of Dunharton who completed a 
collegiate course of stud 7. 

It is a remarkable fact that during the seventy years from 
that date to the present yeaV, there has been but one year, 
1808, that I am aware of, in which there has not been from 
one to five sons of Dunharton in Dartmouth college. Few, if 
any of the rural towns of New England, with an average pop- 
ulation of less than a thousand inhaljitants, and with no grad- 
uated professional man residing in its midst but the pastor, 
can produce such a record as the above. Such a fact is in- 
deed significant of the popular appreciation of learning, and 
the character of the training under which such a trait was de- 
veloped and established. This also explains why so many of 
the youth of Dunharton have received, supplementary to the 
common school, an academic training, more or less extensive. 
It is a better and more reliable investment than railroad 
stocks, as some of you know by sad experience. Better ex- 
pend more in sending your sons to an academy and college, 
and your sprightly daughters to Mount Holyoke Female Sem- 



71 

inary, and less for big farms and attractive marriage portions. 
This intellectual culture and moral development far out- 
weigh any pecuniary inheritance at the expense of the former. 
The former will, ordinarily, secure as much of the pcrishaWle 
as is necessary to the true welfare of the higher nature, while 
the latter has often proved its poverty and incapacity to meet 
the wants of either the mental or physical man. A sugges- 
tion on this point will be made in a subsequent part of this 
address. 

It appears from triennial catalogues that thirty-three natives 
of Dunbarton have been graduated, and in subsequent life en- 
tered the professions of theology, law and teaching. Of the 
first class, who have made preaching their life work, the num- 
ber is ten, of whom six are still living, and only four have 
been called from the harvest "to enter into the joy of their 
Lord." 

Of the ministerial graduates the sketches will be given in 
the order of the date of graduation. 

Isaac Garvin was born in 1774, graduated at Darmouth in 
1803. He was employed many years by the N. H. Missionary 
Society, and closed his ministerial life and labors in 1848, 
aged 74 years. 

Abraham Burnham, D. D., was born in 1775, graduated at 
Dartmouth in 1804. Taught an academy at Bradford, 
Mass., a few years, and was settled at Pembroke. He was 
not only a zealous and successful minister, but a warm and 
efficient friend of education. Under his fostering care, Pem- 
broke Academy arose and flourished. Dr. Burnham was a 
man of clear and decided opinions, and equally fearless in 
their utterance and defense. He Hved to a good old age, and 
died among his flock, beloved and respected, in 1852, aged7'5 
years. The remaining ministerial graduates are still living. 

Hosea Wheeler was born in 1792, graduated at Dartmouth 
in 1811. Settled in the ministry at^NewburyportjMass., where 
he died in 1823. 

Amos W. Burnham, D. D., now in his seventy-fifth year was 
born in 1791, graduated at Dartmouth in 1815 ; taught the 
Academy at Pembroke one or two years, and then settled in 
Rindge. He has spent his ministerial life among the same 
people, and now passing the evening of life among the people 
of his first and only pastoral charge, which is a sufficient com- 
ment on the character of his ministerial fidelity and success, 
awaits the Master's summons. 

Thomas Jameson was born 1794, graduated at Dartmouth 



72 

College, 1818 ; studied theology at Andover, Mass., was 
approbated as a candidate for the ministry by the Ilopkintoii 
Association ; instructed Academies at Pembroke and Eflin- 
ham, was ordained and installed pastor of Cono-regational 
Church and Society, at Scarborough, Me., in 1825. His 
health failing, was dismissed in 1840 ; resided in Gorham, Me., 
till 18G0. Since that time has resided with his children in 
Cambridge, Mass., Greenland and Exeter. 

Harrison C. Page was born in 1820, graduated at Brown 
University, where he remained as Tutor for two years. He 
then went to Newton Theological Seminary, where he died 
just before graduation. 

Charles H. Marshall was born in 1823, graduated in 1841, 
at Wabash College, Indiana, and studied theology at Lane 
Seminary. He was pastor of the 2d Presbyterian church at 
Lafayette, Ind., for five years. Failing health compelled him 
to relinquish his charge. He is now pastor of tlie 4th Pres- 
byterian Church of Indianapolis. 

Abraham Burnham was born in 1820, graduated at Dart- 
mouth College in 1852, and at Theological Seminary at Ando- 
ver, in 1857 ; was ordained and installed pastor of the Con- 
gregational church in East Haverhill, Mass., September 30th, 
1857. He was dismissed at his own request. May, 1865, and 
is now employed as stated supply of the Congregational 
church in Hooksett, N. H. 

Ephriam 0. Jameson was born in 1832, fitted for College at 
Gilmanton Academy ; graduated at Dartmouth, 1855. Went 
immediately to Andover Theological Seminary, where he grad- 
uated in 1858. Supplied the church in Dracut, Mass., through 
that summer, and various other churches through the year. 
In August, 1859, he engaged as permanent supply at East 
Concord, N. H., where he was ordained and installed March 
1st, 1860. He was dismissed at his own request, November, 
1805, and installed over the Union Evangelical Church of 
Salisbury and Amesbury, Mass., November 9th, 1865, where 
he is now pastor. 

George A. Putnam was born in 1835 ; commenced his pre- 
paratory studies at Reed's Ferry, Merrimac, the winter of 
1851, entered the Sophomore Class at Union College, in 1855; 
entered the Middle ('lass at Bangor Theological Seminary, in 
1858 ; was ordained and installed pastor of the First Congre- 
gational Church in Yarmouth, Me., November 14th, 18G0, 
where he is still located. 



73 

Six of the Duubartoii graduates have made teaching their 
life mission. Tiie first was Samuel Burnham, who was the 
first graduate. He was born in 17U7, and graduated at Dart- 
mouth in 1795. He taught the Academy at Derry for many 
years and died in 183-1, aged 07, deeply loved for amiableness 
of character. 

William Parker was born in 1802, graduated at Dart- 
mouth in 1827, spent his life teaching, mostly in the State 
of Now York, and died in Illinois in 186.5, aged 62. 

Caleb Mills was born in 1800, graduated at Dartmouth in 
1828, studied theology at Andover and went directly from 
the seminary to take charge of the Preparatory Department 
of Wabash College in 1833, and has remained connected with 
that Institution as Professor, to the present date, with the 
exception of two years he was Superintendent of Public 
Instruction of the State of Indiana, having been elected to 
that office in 1854. Having been called directly from the 
seminary he has never had any pastoral charge. 

Charles G. Buniham was born in 1807, and graduated at 
Dartmouth in 1829. He taught a classical school at Rahway, 
N. Y., several years, and then took charge of Pembroke Acad- 
emy. He subsequently became Preceptor of an Academy at 
Danville, Vt. Pie was Representative of the town for two 
years, and also Superintendent of Public Instruction of that 
State. His educational labors, in his native and other states 
of his residence, have been exceedingly valuable. He is the 
author of the well-known " Burnham's Arithmetic." He has 
resided for several years past on a farm at Haverhill, Mass., 
and is now in charge of a plantation at Montgomery, Ala. 

Joseph Gibson Hoyt, LL. D., was born in 1815 and grad- 
uated at Yale College in 1840. He was for several years an 
assistant teacher and assistant Principal of Phillips Academy 
at Exeter. Having won a high reputation as a classical 
scholar and accurate teacher, he was elected Chancellor of 
Washington University in the city of St. Louis. He fully 
sustained himself in that position and promised to become a 
man of distinguished usefulness. He was cut down in the 
midst of his splendid career, and the prime and vigor of life, 
in 1862, aged 47 years. He was the most brilliant son, Dun- 
barton ever educated. 

31ark Bailey was born 1827, graduated at Dartmouth in 

1849. His taste having led him, after graduation, to direct 

his studies in the line of Rhetorical development and culture, 

he soon acquired a reputation as a teacher of Elocution that 

I 



74' 

has led liira to give an annual course of lessons in several of 
our Theological Seminaries and Colleges for several years. 
He is permanently connected with Yale College as Teacher of 
Elocution. 

William A. Piitneij was born 1840, fitted for College at 
Meriden, graduated at Dartmouth 18G5, served three months 
in a detached company stationed at Portsmouth, N. H. Pres- 
ent occupation, teaching. 

The first on the list of graduates, who entered tlic legal 
profession, is Jeremiah Slinson. He was born in 1775, and 
graduated at Dartmouth in 1798. Having studied his profes- 
sion, he opened an office in his native town, but devoted his 
attention to agricultural and other pursuits. He died in 
1809, of a wound received in sliding from a haymow in his 
barn, aged 36 years. 

Of William Stark, the next on the list, I know nothing, 
except the date of his graduation which took place in 1799. 
Studying law at Hopkinton, he went to Canada, since which, 
nothing is known of him. 

John Burnham was born in 1779, graduated at Dartmouth 
in 1807, and died in 1826, aged 47. He practiced law in 
Hillsboro'. I have the impression, from my faint recollection 
of him, that he attained some distinction in his profession, 

John Whipple was born in 1789, and graduated at Dart- 
mouth in 1812. "He held- the office of Register of Deeds 
of Merrimack County, and also Judge of the Police Court of 
Concord." He died in 1859, aged 68 years. 

John Jameson was born 1797, graduated at Dartmouth 
1821, passed three years in teaching at Milledgeville, Ga., 
read law with Hon. Rufus Mclntire, Me., and has been a suc- 
cessful lawyer and farmer in the same State, and Paymaster 
in the Union army. His present residence, is Cornish, Me. 

John Tenney was born in 1799, graduated at Dartmouth in 
1824, and opened an office in Methuen, Mass., where he was 
highly esteemed by his fellow citizens and sent to the Senate 
of his adopted State, and was, also, a member of the Council. 
He died in 1853, aged 53 years. 

James Henry Paige was born 1811, graduated at Union 
College in 1834, studied law at Aurora, N. Y., and located in 
practice in Lewiston, N. Y. Died at Dunbarton, 1852. 

Walter Harris Tenney was born in 1818 and graduated at 
Dartmouth in lc39. Whether ho studied law 1 know not. 
His feeble healtli after graduation forbade any very close appli- 



75 

cation to study, and in five years he was laid in the grave, 
aged 26 years. 

Amos Hadley graduated at Dartnioutli 1844. Settled in 
the practice of" law, at Concord, and has been for some years 
associate editor of Tiie Independent Democrat. 

Joseph M. Cavis was born in 1824, graduated at Dart- 
mouth in 1846, opened an office in Holyoke, Mass., went to 
California in 1851, and was elected, in 1804, Judge of the 
Fifth Judicial District of that State. 

David B. KimbaU was born 1829, graduated at Wabash 
College, 1854, read law at Salem, Mass., and is now settled in 
the practice of his profession at the same place. 

Georg-e H. Twiss was born 1833, fitted for college at 
Francestown, graduated at Dartmouth 1859, has read law, 
but has been engaged mostly in teaching, being for some years 
Superintendent of Schools in Columbus, Ohio, where he still 
resides. 

Wm. E. Bunten was born 1833, fitted for college at Meri- 
den, graduated at Dartmouth, 1860, read law at Concord, 
N. H., enlisted in the 14th Regiment of N. H. Volunteers, 
served as captain in the Army of the Potomac, and is now in 
a clerkship at Washington, D. C. 

• Henry M. Ccddweil was born 1839, fitted for college at 
Pembroke, graduated at Dartmouth 1861, enlisted as sharp- 
shooter, received a captain's commission, and died at Fal- 
mouth, Va., July, 1862. 

Henry M. Putney was born 1840, fitted for college at New 
London, graduated at Dartmouth 1861, read law at Concord 
and ^Manchester, N. H., admitted to the Ear in 1862. Pres- 
ent location, Manchester, N. H. 

Henry E. Burnhani was born 1844, fitted for college at 
Meriden, graduated at Dartmouth 1865, now reading law at 
Concord, N. H. 

The following gentlemen, whose names are appended, were 
members of college at some period, but closed their studies 
short of graduation, as their names do not appear on any 
triennial catalogue : 

John Stinson was born 1773, was for a time a member of 
Dartmouth College. Was a prominent man in his native 
town for many years. 

N. Fisher Harris, son of Walter Harris, D. D., was born 
1797, was in Dartmouth College for a time, became a physi- 
cian, resided in Georgia where he was made a Judge, and 
where he died in 1844. 



le, 

Caleb Stark, Jr., grandson of Gen. John Stark, of Revolu- 
tionary memory, was born 1804. Was a member of Har- 
vard College for some time, but did not graduate. Studied 
law, but did not practice his profession. He spent his life in 
Dunbarton, engaged in private literary pursuits, among which 
was a history of liis native town, published by him in 18G0. 
He died in 18(54. 

John Gould, Jr.^ was born 1794, died in Dartmouth Col- 
lege, 1815. 

Abel K. Wilson was born 1808, died in Dartmouth Col- 
lege, 1831. 

Leonard S. Parker vffis horn Dec. 6, 1812, fitted for col- 
lege mainly at the Boston Latin School, ejitered Dartmouth 
College in 1832, but left before graduating from a failure of 
health, — spent four years at the Oberlin Institute, Ohio, — was 
ordained at Mansfield, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1837, was two years 
pastor of that church, — was installed as pastor of High St. 
Congregational Church, Providence, R. I., in 1840, leaving 
after three years from ill health, — subsequently became pas- 
tor of the churches in West Brookfield and Haverhill, Mass., 
remaining seven years in each place, was installed pastor of 
the First Church in Derry, N. H., Feb. 20, 1861, where he 
now labors. He was the first scholar in his class, both at the 
Latin School and in College. Before completing his studies^ 
with another young man, (now Rev. Hiram Foote,) Mr. Par- 
ker lectured against slavery in Northern Ohio, and was 
repeatedly assaulted by mobs. The late Hon. Joshua R. 
Giddings said that these two young men revolutionized his 
district. 

Frank A. Pulney was born 1843, fitted for college at New 
Hampton, entered Dartmouth 1859, left in August, 1861 and 
enlisted in First Co. N. H. Sharpshooters, served with the 
Army of the Potomac until after the seven days' fight before 
Richmond — was then transferred to Philadelphia, mustered 
out in 1864, but returned to duty and left at the close of the 
war in June, 1865. At present in Eastman's Business Col- 
lege, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 

Of professional men who did not enjoy a Collegiate 
Education, we find Joel JVheeler, born 1808, and Christie 
Wheeler, his Ijrother, born in 1810. Both received their edu- 
cation at New Hampton, settled in the clerical profession at 
McHenry, Illinois, where the elder still resides, the younger 
having died some twenty years since. 



I i 

I am not aware that any Dunbarton graduate has entered 
the medical proicssion, and as another speaks i'or that profes- 
sion, I will not take up your time by any further allusion to 
our native physicians. 

Very likely some names belonging to the above lists have 
been overlooked. If so, I trust you will pardon the omission 
as it is through lack of information and not design. 

ISuch is the educational record of our native town, and 
such are the minds which have mingled, from time to time, 
with this people during the period of their development and 
culture. The unconscious tuition of such intercourse is not 
without a significance and power, which should not be over- 
looked, nor unrecognized in our estimate of the causes which 
have made Dunbarton what she is. Did time permit, it 
would be both appropriate and pleasant to notice some of the 
elect Ladies^ who have gone forth from these hills and valleys 
and been the joy and hght of many households in various 
commonwealths of this glorious Union, now redeemed and 
disenthralled from the curse and stigma of slavery. Would 
that they and their husbands and children were present, but 
they cannot be gathered, for it w^ould be necessary to sum- 
mon some of them from not only distant States, but also 
to call them from Syria and Persia and Asia Minor. 

In conclusion, I cannot forbear to make one suggestive 
enquiry. Shall this audience disperse and this Centennial 
Celebration become a subject of historic record, and nothing 
be done to indicate to posterity that such an assembly had 
ever been convened ? Shall no memorial of our gratitude 
for the countless blessings we have received, as a town, dur- 
ing the first century of its history, be left behind, and no 
monument be reared to express our appreciation of the value 
of our present happy condition, and indicate a desire for the 
increase and perpetuity of the agencies for good that the past 
and present generations have enjoyed ? I seem to see \i\ 
your countenances an expression of a noble and generous 
response to the suggestion. Let that monument be such as 
will best express our conviction of the true interests of those 
who succeed us, and contribute most directly and effectually 
to secure those interests, would seem to be the utterance of 
you all. If so, what can be more appropriate for the purpose 
than the establishment of the Dunbarton Classic School, a.t 
which the present and future youth of this town may receive 
an academic education preparatory to college, Mount Holyoke 
Female Seminary, or the activities of business life. The upper 



78 

story of the old meetinghouse would furuish a fine room 40 x 
60, 12 feet high, and the lower story of the same dimensions 
will be all that ihc town needs for its public meetings. Let 
the town, as a cor|)orati()n, give the porch and upper story to 
(he Trustees of said D. C. S. The expense of fitting it up 
would be very small. The school needs $6000 permanent 
funds to suj^plement the tuition income. Such a monument 
vrould be worthy of its builders, and an object of delightful 
contemplation to the sons and daughters of Dunbarton the 
world over. 1 shall be happy to contribute to the enterprise 
if it is deemed advisable to undertake it. Let me say to you, 
from my distant home, that my life experience of almost 
threescore years has been an ample confirmation of hhe 
seemingly paradoxical scripture utterance, " there is that 
scattereth and yet increaseth." Many have found that with- 
holding from good causes and philanthropic enterprises more 
than was meet, has tended to poverty. " It is more blessed 
to o-rye than to receive." These are the Lord's stocks and 
are always in the market with this general coupon attached, 
" he thatsoweth bountifully shall als<o reap bountifully." 

(See Appendix.) 

Note. The Editor is repponsihle for many of the above statistics, having made them 
as accurate as he could, at the rCHuest of" Prof. Mills. The followiiii; correction was 
received after the above was in i)rint. Hosea Wheeler was born in 1791. Was pastor of 
the Baptist church in N^wburyport, Mass., for live years . Died at Eastport, Maine. 



No. 6. The Baptist church of Dunbarton ; she cherishes 
the memory of her former pastors with fraternal and chris- 
tian regard. She has not forgotten the name of a Mason and 
a Pillsbury who have gone to their rest, nor a Wescott, a 
Walker, a Hodge and a Poland who still survive, and also oth- 
ers, who as stewards of the grace of God, prepared and Cooked 
food for the flock that was well seasoned and fit to be Eaton. 
The Baptists of Dunbarton, while tenaciously adhering tA the 
Bible truth, that God only can give the increase, are, never- 
theless, willing to acknowledge that much in their present 
hopeful condition and encouraging prospects, is due to the 
past labors of a faithful ministry. 



79 

Response by Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, pastor of the Baptist 
church of Dunbarton. 

Mr. Fillsbury commenced by sayinj^ he had hoped some 
former pastor would be present to respond in behalf of the 
Baptist church, but as no one had appeared, he would 
endeavor to supply the deficiency as best he could. 

The Baptist church of Dunbarton was organized Dec. 15, 
1828. It was composed of nineteen members who had been 
dismissed from the Goffstown and Bow churches for that 
purpose. The interest that led to this step was the result of 
the labors of a young man by the name of Isaac Wescott. 
He taught school at the East part of the town, near the resi- 
dences of most of these members, and about this time com- 
menced exercising his gift in preaching. The meetings were 
first held in a school-house, but that was soon filled to over- 
flowino-. They were then removed to a large shop owned by 
John Gould, Esq., and erected for a blacksmith shop, but never 
occupied for that purpose. Many persons are now living at 
the East part of the town (Mountalona,) who used to sit in 
that shop and listen to the preaching of young Wescott, who 
already evinced" superior abilities for the ministerial profes- 
sion. 

Not long after this, a meeting-house was built by a Mr. 
Elliott for the Ba|)tist church and society. I am unable to 
learn from the records the precise time when it was completed, 
but it was duly occupied by the Baptist Society. It is the 
same house that now stands there, a short distance from 
Gould's corner and nearly opposite the residence of Thomas 
Johnson, Esq. 

While Mr. Wescott remained, the house was crowded with 
eager, listeners, people came from all sections, and some from 
as far off as Amoskeag, to hear the earnest young preacher. 
Mr. Wescott continued his labors until near the beginning of 
the year 1831, when he left and removed to Vermont. He 
has since proved one of our strongest and most successful 
preachers and pastors, and is now settled over a large church 
in the city of New York. 

After Mr. Wescott left, it seems the church remained with- 
out a settled minister until the Spring of 1835, but was sup- 
plied a part of the time by a Mr. Ellis and a Mr. Strong. In 
the Spring of 1835, the church called and settled as its pas- 
tor, Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, who continued to labor with them 
nearly four years, or until about the beginning of the year 



80 

1839. Durino; his ministrations the church enjoyed a revival 
of rehgion and a good degree of prosperity. 

After Mr. Pillsbur^ left, the church seems to have remained 
without a settled minister till the Spring of 1843 ; but was 
supplied by different persons, and in the mean time enjoyed 
two considerable seasons of revival, the lirst in the Autumn of 
1839, which seemed to spring from a prayer-meeting estab- 
lished by three brethren agreeing to meet together and pray 
for the conversion of sinners. Soon the Spirit of the Lord 
was poured out and souls were converted, and, as a result, 
twenty-two were baptized into the fellowship of the church. 

During this season the church was supplied a part of the 
time by Horace Eaton, then a student at New Hampton. 
After him I find the names of a Mr. Walker and a Mr. Pear- 
son, and also Mr. Pillsbury, the former pastor, supplied the 
desk half of the time during the season of 1841. 

In the Fall of 1842 the church was blessed with another 
revival of religion, which seemed to have some connection 
with the labors of Rev. Mr. Knapp, in Concord. In October 
a protracted meeting was held, conversions followed, and nine- 
teen were added to the church by baptism. During this time 
the church was without a regular pastor. In March, 1843, 
Rev. Abner Mason was called to ordination and settled as pas- 
tor. 

For reasons which do not appear, this pastorate was short. 
In 1845-6 a Rev. Mr. Smith is spoken of as the minister. 

In the Spring of 1847 the meetings were removed from the 
old house at Mountalona to a Hall which, with a lot of 
ground, had been purchased at the centre of the town. 
Rev. J. W. Poland supplied the desk during the sea- 
son. In 1848 the church engaged the services of Rev. H. 
D. Hodge, as pastor, and during this year the society built a 
new meeting-house upon the site of the old Hall at the Centre, 
and in November the meetings were moved into it. Owing 
to some dissatisfaction growing out of the building of the 
meeting-house, Mr. Hodge, (whose labors, it seems, were very 
acceptable to the church generally,) did not remain longer 
than the year 1848. 

In the Spring of 1849, Rev. Samuel Cook became the pas- 
tor of the church, and continued so until near 1854. Some- 
time during this year, (1854,) Rev. Horace Eaton commenced 
his labors with the church. He continued its pastor till the 
Spring of 1859. 



81 

In 1860 the church was supplied by Rev. J. M. Coburn, 
and in February, IS'il, Wasliington L. Coburn, (brother of the 
former,) was called to ordination and settled as the pastor. 

For reasons which do not appear in the records, this pas- 
torate was also a very short one. 

In the Spring of 1862, Rev. John Peacock, the evangelist, 
was engaged as a supply. He continued to supply the church 
until September, 1868. During his ministrations, in the fall 
of 1862, the church was much revived ; some ten or twenty 
persons were hopefully converted and united with the church 
by baptism. 

In September, 1863, the present pastor, Rev. Stephen Pills- 
bury, (son of the Rev. Stephen Pillshury who was settled in 
1835,) commenced his labors. He labored about a year as a 
licentiate from the New London Baptist church, and in Octo- 
ber, 1864, was ordained and settled as pastor. In ihe Spring 
of 1864 the church enjoyed another refreshing season of revi- 
val ; as a result of which eleven new members were added by 
baptism and experience. 

It appears by the records that the church has had, during 
its thirty-seven years of existence, some severe trials of disci- 
pline, and many changes of pastors and ministers, yet it has 
never been long without the preached word. It has also had 
five or six special seasons of revival, in all of which some 
seventy new members wore brought into the church. It has 
also had at other times, tlie usual experience of additions of 
individuals by baptism and letter ; and losses by removal and 
death. These losses have been so numerous that from nine- 
teen it has increased to only seventy -three, its present num- 
ber. 

Mr. President, in the sentiment of the toast referring to our 
church and society, its present condition is spoken of as hope- 
ful and prosperous. I think it may truly be said to be so, 
compared with many former periods of its history. As an 
evidence of this I will mention, first, a willingness to give the 
minister a comfortable support. Secondly, a disposition to 
recognize its obligations to contribute to the various objects 
of benevolence, also a willingness to incur additional expense 
to procure help from abroad to sustain a series of meetings 
and a special effort for a revival of God^s tvork. Thirdly, a 
state of union and harmony between the members of the 
church, and lastly, the good feeling that seems to be existing 
between the two denominations in the town. 
J 



82 

In conclusion, let me express the confident liope, that they 
will ever continue to work harmoniously together, that what- 
ever jealousies may have existed in the past, they will now be 
forgotten, and this day the hatchet be buried out of sight for- 
ever ; that henceforth tlie various members of the two socie- 
ties will always be ready to bid each other God-speed in all 
their efforts to save souls and build up the cause of Christ. 

Let me also express the hope that in 1965 the whole srrovnd 
will be occupied, that " every house will henhouse of prayer,'' 
■and the two denominations be two only in name ; thus 
answering the end of the prayer of our Savior, "That they 
all may be one ; as thou. Father, art in me and I in thee, that 
they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that 
thou hast sent me." 



No. 7. Ancient and Modern Travel ;— The Bridle path 
and embroidered Pillion, versus the Railway and the cush- 
ioned Car. 

Response by Ex. Gov. Gilmore : 

Concord, N. H., Sept. 12, 1865. 
Rev. SUvanus Hayward, Chairman Centennial Committee, 

Dimbarton, N. H. ^ . 

My Dear Sir : — Since I wrote you accepting your kind invi- 
tation to be present at the centennial celebration of the settle- 
ment of Dunbarton, I have been so seriously ill that I have 
hardly been able to attend to business at all. Of course cares 
have accumulated and duties been neglected which tax my 
returning strength to the utmost, and I greatly fear that "tlie 
rail-way car" will engross all my energies to-morrow, to the 
titter exclusion of the "embroidered pillion." In other words, 
I fear that I shall be compelled to deny myself the pleasure of 
minoling with my friends and fellow citizens on an occasion 
of so much interest to them and to myself. 

I cannot claim to be more than half a native of Dunbarton ; 
but that, you will recollect, is my "better half." _ I have 
known the town intimately, sympathized heartily in its great 
prosperity, and done what I might to promote its welfare dur- 
ing one third of the period whose lapse you commemorate. 




83 

The appropriate sentiment to which you invite me to respond, 
recalls the circumstances in which I first became acquainted 
with your beautiful and thrifty neighborhoods ; the tedious 
miles of staging which then separated you from the outside 
world ; and all the wonderful changes, not alone in our modes 
of communication, but in our habits of thought and ways of 
living, which the last generation has witnessed. 

With such memories thronging upon me, and so many ties 
of interest and affection binding me to your people, it is hard 
for rae to confess my inability to participate in your commem- 
orative services ; but 1 cannot grant myself this day's enjoy- 
ment without imperilling interests which are not my own. 
Will you do me the kindness to explain to your citizens the 
cause of my absence and assure them of my desire that their 
prosperity in the future may be as steady, substantial and sat- 
isfactory as in the past. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

J. A. GILMORE. 



No. 8. Our Native Physicians : — Dunbarton, the honored 
birth-place of many professional children — but through the 
pure air of her hills, and the pure morals of her inhabitants, 
offering but small inducements to her doctors and lawyers to 
practice upon their own townsmen. 

Response by J. L. Colby, M. D., Harlem, N. Y. 

In responding to this sentiment we may say of our venera- 
ble mother town as Daniel Webster said of the State, it is a 
good place from which to emigrate. She has given sound 
minds in sound bodies to hundreds who are now devothig 
their healthy and mature energies to the interests of other com- 
munities, but will never forget the hale and honored matron 
in whose mountain cradle they were rocked. 

The temperance of the community never perilled by a tav- 
ern or grog-shop, (at least in my recollection,) and the good 
temper of the people never tampered with by a resident law- 




84 

yer, (we intend no reflection upon the legal profession,) have 
made our town conspicuous as a city set upon a liill. For 
nearly three quarters of a century the people sat in great har- 
mony under the ministrations of the pious and beloved Dr. 
Harris, and Putnam, the venerable survivor whom we would 
congratulate in his long continued and successful ministry ; 
and even in their division into two congregations under the 
respected clergymen now occupying the pulpits, the same good 
feeling is preserved. 

Among the deceased members of the medical profession of 
our old town, we would mention with profound respect the 
excellent Drs. Clement and Stearns, my old preceptor and 
true friend, Avho devoted so many years of unremunerated 
professional toil among their own townsmen. 

Of other deceased members of tlie profession, the names of 
Mills and Rider will be held in honoral)le recollection. 

We mention with pride Dr. David P. Goodhue who is yield- 
ing his professional skill to his country's service as a surgeon 
in the navy ; and Oilman Leach devoting his energies to the 
interest of the community near my own field of labor, we 
"would not forget. 

Friend Story, my old associate in the study of medicine, 
has withdrawn from the profession he practiced with so much 
success, as the people of Hooksett, Manchester and Massachus- 
etts well know, and retiring to his numerous flocks in Weare, 
having ceased to be doctor, deals now more in "greenbacks" 
than plasters ; and in palatable bank-drafts, not nauseating 
draughts of the shops. 

For my medical brother now bestowing his valuable ser- 
vices upon the residents of the town,* we offer both our 
hearty congratulations and liveliest sympathies. He could 
not have chosen a more picturesque home, a more delightful, 
social circle in which to move, nor a more limited field for 
the display of professional skill. We would wish for him the 
liighest success compatible with the continued good health of 
the community. 

May the old town during the next century be as honored 
in her children as she honors them with her unspotted record ; 
and wliile she gives them a healthful berth in her airy hills, 
may she as generously as heretofore, offer their services for 
the good of the whole country. 

*Dr. Colby was probably unaware of the fact that there ha? been no phypician resident 
Jn Dunbarton for nearly ten years past. (Ed.) 



S5 

Permit me to otTer the following sentiments : 
Present clergy of Dunbarton. !May the mantle of the early 
clergy descend upon the present clergy, making them if pos- 
sible, more eminent in piety and usefulness ; and may the 
sympathy uniting them with the people among whom tliey la- 
bor, be like that which existed in olden time. 

Tlie kindred professions, Dimnil//, Law and Pli/jsic^ alike 
founded for tlie protection and advancement of human wel- 
fare : May they never be diverted from their true and holy 
callina:. 



No. 9. Dunbarton Farmers ; — Noted for broad shoulders 
and broad lands, for hard hands and hard cash, for good 
morals and good stock, for tender consciences and tender 
beef. No town can boast of better farmers, and no farmers 
of a better town. 

The early farmers of Dunbarton ; — our ancestors, brave, 
honest and true. Their privations and virtues should ever be 
remembered with filial love and gratitude. May we, their 
sons and daughters, emulate their principles and do what in 
us lies to add to the fair fame of our dear old native town. 

Response by Charles G. B. Ryder, Esq. 

The Bible teaches us that agriculture was the first employ- 
ment of mankind. That God made Adam and Eve and 
placed them in a garden to till and to dress it. And the cul- 
tivation of the soil has been the leading pursuit of the whole 
human race up to the present time. It has not only been the 
leading, but it is among the most honorable, the most healthy 
and the most independent of all pursuits to which man has 
given his attention. 

True, there have been offshoots, some have gone into me- 
chanical, commercial and professional engagements, while 
others, unwilling to wait so slow a process, have plunged 
themselves into all the uncertainties of speculation. Yet the 
intelligent and industrious farmer is the sovereign of them all. 
He wields a sceptre to which all must bend. He holds the 



8G 

balance of the life and comfort of the world in his stalwart 
liand. None can exist without the proceeds of his toil. It 
is he who virtually feeds and clothes the whole human family. 
Cities spring from the traffic in the products of his labor, 
commerce is the legitimate offspring of his industry. Neither 
armies nor fleets can exist without his aid, as we have seen 
during the past four years, and the day is past when the tiller 
of the soil is to be confounded with tlie sod which he turns 
with his plow. It is true the men of science and of letters 
are good in their places, and do mucli towards promoting the 
happiness and prosperity of the world. But the farmer is 
master of the most needful of toils and the most serviceable 
of products. Yet he should be learned in his profession, and 
when this is the case, how vast is the field for study. It is no 
less than " the earth and the fullness thereof." 

Dunbarton is and always has been exclusively an agricul- 
tural town. We have now and then a carpenter, a black- 
smith and a shoemaker, but they are more or less connected 
witii the cultivation of the soil. No one of them would 
hardly attempt to gain a living by his own particular busi- 
ness. 

We are as " a city set upon a hill, which cannot be hid." 
Surrounded by rivers, not a drop of which has ever washed a 
grain of sand from among these rocks. The shrill whistle of 
the iron horse may be heard in every direction, but he never 
yet has ventured to travel these hills witli his heavy tread, or 
to spout his hot and fetid breath along these valleys. 

We are farmers, and as such our interests are bound up in 
the great interests of agriculture. No lawyer with his legal 
documents, or doctor with his pills and physic dare to intrude 
upon this sacred soil. The people are too honest for the one, 
too healthy for the other. Even the minister, man of letters 
as he is, finds but one single boon companion, and they two 
tread these iiills in one solitary pair. 

The first settlers of this town were farmers. Men of indom- 
itable energy and perseverance, men who feared no hard- 
ships, were ready to brave all dangers, men of sterling worth. 
Had they not been such, a Putney and a Rogers would never 
have left the pleasant fields and the, then, comparative com- 
forts of old Rumford, for the sterile and uninviting surround- 
ings of " Great Meadow." Nor would a Page, a Stinson, and 
others equally fearless, have left their homes and their friends 
in Londonderry, crossed the beautiful and fertile valley of the 
Merrimack, and the easily cultivated plains of Goffstown to 



87 

make for tliemselves homes in the western wilds of the town^ 
far from each other, where the echoing sounds of the wood- 
man's axe had never been heard, with bears, catamounts and 
wolves, tlieir associates by night, their guns and other weapons 
of defence, their only reliable friends by day. Such was the 
character of those brave men wlio first settled in tliese val- 
leys. Those too, who at a later day cleared these hills, made 
these farms and erected these dwellings, possessed that same 
invincible spirit which characterized those who had lived here 
before them. That same energy and perseverance may be 
ours, but we need to pass through the same trying ordeal to 
know our own characters. 

But what a change, in the farming interests of this town, 
has a hundred years wrought. These hills were then covered 
witli their native forests, standing in all their primeval gran- 
deur. These farms were then in a great measure unoccupied. 
The timber of which tliese pleasant dwellings are made had 
never received the jar of the pioneer's axe. Now we see 
beautiful fields, which have been made productive by the 
energy and labors of those who have taken an active part in 
the great drama of life since that period, covered with luxu- 
riant corn and waving grain. We see elegant farm houses 
and commodious barns built upon the most improved modern 
plans. We see these churches, too, from the spire of one of 
which, every Lord's day morning, may be heard the peals of 
the Sabbath bell, echoing and re-echoing over these hills and 
through these vales, calling together those, who with willing 
feet, would come to worship at the shrine of Jehovah. In- 
stead of the log hut with its single room, entrance and win- 
dow, may be seen the scliool-house with open doors and its 
many reminiscences of other days, inviting thither our chil- 
dren that they may get to themselves knowledge, which shall 
prepare them for usefulness in future life. What improve- 
ments in our farms, also, may be noticed as having been made 
from time to time. Fences have been built, trees planted, 
meadows, otherwise unproductive, have been reclaimed, now 
yielding a rich reward for the support of the beast of the 
field. 

In the products of the farm also, a great advance has been 
made, even within the recollection of those here present. 
Among the more substantial fruits, the first of all of which 
is the apple, we have the delicious Baldwin, the crispy and 
juicy Gravenstein, sweet enough, sour enough, and pleasant 
enough to satisfy the taste of any epicure, besides others " too 



88 

numerous to mention,'' instead of the gnarled and crabbed 
cider apple which our fathers had. Fears, peaches and plums, 
besides many smaller fruits, come in by way of dessert. The 
culture of flowers and shruljs also, evinces no less of improve- 
ment than the other products of the farm. 

All this change has been brought about through the intelli- 
gence and the industry of the man of the soiL 

What shall be said of the implements of husbandry ? 
What they were a hundred years ago I know not. Of course 
they were rude and inconvenient. But even since my own 
recollection, the improvement in these has been almost beyond 
imagination. Instead of forks, rakes, and scythes, such as 
our fathers used, we hear people talk of mowing machines, 
. horse rakes, hay tedders and horse hay forks. Instead of the 
wooden, straight handled hickory up plow, we have the smooth, 
easy running cast iron. In hoes, carts and carriages of all 
kinds, we notice the same great degree of advancement. So 
of many other things which I need not name. 

As an agricultural community, Dunbarton has fully kept 
pace with all her sister towns. Where do you find better 
sustained churches, according to the number of its popula- 
tion ? Where in any farming community do you find better 
regulated schools, although they are far from being what they 
should be ? Where wull you find better farm-houses with 
better appendages, or kept in better repair ? As for barns, 
she is ahead of almost any neighboring town. 

Such, in a few brief words, is the character of those men 
who have cultivated these hills and valleys within the last 
hundre<i years. Such too, the improvements they have made. 
But I should do injustice to those noble women who have 
travelled the weary journey of life with them, did I allow 
them to pass unnoticed here. They have proved themselves 
competent for arduous labors, and granted cheerful aid in all 
the way of life. Who but they spun the tow, the flax, and 
the wool, and manufactured them into clothing for the benefit 
of the husband and children, and in many instances furnished 
the necessaries of the family by the proceeds of their toil ? 
They, too, bestowed upon those men that womanly love, 
sympathy and encouragement which man always needs in 
whatever s[)here of life he moves. To these mothers as well 
as sires, belong the honor of making the agricultural interests 
of Dunbarton what they are to-day. Their influence does not 
end here. They have sent out many a noble son and daugh- 
ter to grace the walks of life in almost every sphere, Farm- 



89 

ers, Lawyers, Doctors, and Ministers not a few. Some have 
returned to us on this occasion. Otliers are far away in dis- 
tant places, while some have fallen and their ashes lie mingled 
with the soil of almost every state of the Union. 

We can boast of no great and gifted statesmen, who, after 
the turmoils and strife of a political life, have retired to the 
peace and quietude of the country. But we have others 
equally worthy of our esteem and admiration. Among them 
I gladly refer you to him, to whom we have listened with so 
much interest this morning as the orator of this occasion, 
who, after the trials and perplexities of the school-room for 
many successive years, has fallen back to his own productive 
acres. We also have a son-in-law who is now Ex-Governor of 
our own little State, He, too, is a farmer, and his possession 
lies within the nativity of his better half. Others there are, 
by no means unworthy, would time permit, to be named in 
connection with these. 

Farmers of Dunbarton at home or abroad : — Ours is a noble 
calling. Let us never be ashamed of hard hands or brown 
faces. We also can claim a noble ancestry, who with their 
sufferings and hardships in making old Starkstown what she 
is to-day, should never be forgotten. 



No. 10. Our Mechanics : May their memory be cherished 
and their value appreciated by the present and future genera- 
tions of the town. 

Response by Leroy R. Mills. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : — In this sentiment 
we have a three fold cord well entwined, which the inspired 
penman has declared "is not easily broken." In the history 
of the past, we have had the Religious, Literary, Legal, Med- 
ical, and Agricultural interests of the town presented to our 
minds in all the power with which eloquence and argument 
could enforce them, nor would I detract one jot or tittle of 
their importance, or the sacredness of their memory ; but only 
add that all has not been told of our good Old Mother Town. 

Although Dunbarton is emphatically a Farming town, yet 
her sons and daughters have not been insensible to the many 



90 

other useful and refined arts. Among these, Mechanics have 
held a prominent place. 

Need I speak of their value ? If so, look about you and be- 
hold the monuments that our fathers reared, that in silence 
speak of genius and labor ; the mills they built to saw and 
grind, — the stately mansions they raised and adorned ; — all 
are silent reporters of the skill and energy in generations that 
have gone to their long home. Their names and worthy 
deeds should we keep in grateful remembrance. 

Of some of these will I speak. 

Of Mill-wrights, we record the names of Simeon and Levi 
Palmer, Eben and Samuel Gould, and Eben Bailey. 

Of Wheel-wrights : — John Ferguson. 

Of Carpenters and Joiners: — Wm. Tenney. who framed and 
finished our venerable Old Town House, Shubael Tenney, 
John Garvin, John Leach, Robert Fulton, David and Moses 
Eliot. 

Of Painters : — James Stinson. 

Of Masons : — Timothy Jones, Henry M. Putnam and John 
Burnham. 

Of Blacksmiths : — Moses Poor, John Jameson, Wm. Brown, 
Eben Chase, John Gould, Abel Currier, Jared Fuller, Jona- 
than Waite, Richard Parkinson, and Jonathan Ireland, 

Of Shoemakers: — Hugh Jameson, John Wilson, Wm. Cur- 
tice, Joseph Twiss, and Jesse Sargent. 

Of Tanners : — Wm. Parker, Jonas Hastings, John Cavis, 
Obadiah and Wm. Woodbury. 

Of Tailors and Tailuresses : — Thomas George, Robert Dins- 
rcore, Adaline Curtice, Ann Stinson and Hannah Colby. 

Of Coopers : — Moses Colby, Abraham Burnham, William 
Beard, Perley P. ajid Aaron Ray, John Mills and Isaac Bar- 
nard. 

Of Pumpmakers : — Thomas Hammond. 

These all liave done their work and gone to their reward. 
Others, doubtless, lived and acted, but their names were not 
at hand, for me to record. 

Of those of the present day, we have not time to speak, as 
they are too numerous to mention. Suffice it to say, the rest 
of these trades are practiced l)y citizens of the town, and some 
others have arisen to give beauty and stability to our domestic 
institutions, and perpetuate the memory of by-gone days. 

May the mantle of the cherished dead rest upon the living. 
Most of these are with us to-day, to share our joy, and "wel- 
come home" each wandering son and daughter that has re- 



91 

turned to mingle with us in songs of grateful praise to our 
kind and gracious God, for his guardian care and watchful 
Providence, that has been around and witliin us hitlicrto. 

Let us keep in mind the past, to enliven the present, and 
inspire us in the future to noble deeds, and^pcrsevering efforts 
in climbing the hill of Science and Art. May our zeal never 
cool, and our energy never tire, until from its lofty summit 
we shout the note of victory. 



No. 11. The Starks : — Soldiers in time of War, Historians 
and Poets in time of Peace ; an honor to the State that gave 
them birth, and an ornament to the society in whicii they 
lived ; — we cherish and revere the memory of the departed, 
and we honor the worth of those now living. 

At the request of the Misses Stark, Hon. Horace Chase of 
Hopkinton, gave the following Response : 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : On an occasion 
like the present, there are some thoughts which irresistibly 
force themselves iipon the attention. 

A reflective mind cannot forl)ear to contrast the condition 
to-day of the town which now celebrates its hundredth birth- 
day, with that which existed in its infancy, and to inquire 
what was the moving and primary cause whicli has produced 
the wonderful improvements that we witness among us and 
about us. 

Tliis country, then a pathless wilderness, is now covered 
witli cultivated fields, yiekling all the necessaries, and many 
of the comforts and luxuries of life — then inhabited by the 
wild beasts of prey and savage tribes of Indians equally wild, 
and, if possible, more ferocious — now its hills and valleys are 
dotted over with civilized habitations, the abodes of peace, 
plenty, prosperity, and, above all, cliristianity. 

We are standing on what then miglit be called the frontiers 
of an infant colony, the young and feeble offspring of Euro- 
pean civilization, now in the rear guard of a great and power- 
ful nation which has swept like a resistless deluge through the 
the valleys and over the mountains of New England, along the 



92 

shores of the great Lakes, and across the prairies of the mighty 
West, arrested in its course only by the waves of the Pacific 
Ocean. 

It is but natural then, to inquire whence these mighty 
changes, and wliat arc tlio causes which produced these stu- 
pendous results. Our growth from weak and feeble colonies 
originally under the government of Great Britian, to a great, 
powerful and independent nation, is undoubtedly owing to 
many and various co-operating causes which I do not propose, 
nor would the limits of my remarks allow me to discuss ; but 
I may be allowed to say that, with sentiments of just pride and 
reverence, mingled with a sense of the obligations on our 
own part, arising from the relation, we can assert, it was our 
fathers and our fathers' fathers who first set this ball in mo- 
tion, and began the creation of this new world. 

We go back but two or three generations to find the in- 
trepid little band which forms our order of nobility, not, it is 
true, decorated with the insignia of rank, originating in an old 
and artificial state of society, but nature's own noblemen, the 
true Knights Errant of their age — born to battle with diffi- 
culties and conquer them — to court danger and survive it — 
men not educated in the refinement of Courts, nor in the tech- 
nicalities of European lav/s, nor in the dialectics of the Uni- 
versities, but men of stalwart arms, honest hearts and clear 
heads, amply competent to deal with the practicalities of their 
time, and, as we have the proof before our eyes, in the results 
of a hundred years, to lay the foundation of a mighty empire, 
and a system of Democratic government, such as never entered 
the imagination of dreaming philosophers. 

Among these heroes of a hundred years since, perhaps no 
one can be found more truly a representative man, both in his 
personal character and personal history, than Major-General 
John Stark, one of the original proprietors of your town, a 
man, in person of medium size but strongly knit frame, with, 
as the saying is, " no loose flesh," but all bone and muscle, 
made for use, and capable of great endurance ; possessed of a 
daring and adventurous spirit — perfectly insensible to any 
feelings of personal danger, as early evinced in his contests 
with the Indians and his conduct when a prisoner in their 
hands — receiving a fine practical military education, in the 
old French and Indian wars, where he, like most of his revolu- 
tionary compeers, got all his knowledge of the art of war-— ■ 
frank and outspoken in manner, unhesitating and decided in 
opinion, clear-headed and independent in thought, as ready 



93 

to act as to think — he was just the kind of man to whom all 
ordinary minds look in time of difficuly and danger, and 
whom, even men themselves qualified to lead, are ready to 
accept as their Chieftain. 

When came the terrible life and death struggle of the Rev- 
olutionary War, it was easy for those who knew his personal 
history, to predict that the man, who, when a youngster, had 
struck up the guns of savages aimed at his brother's life, when 
to do so seemed certain death to himself, would think no sac- 
rifice too great for his beloved country, and that so long as iiis 
countrymen were swayed by the young warrior whose indom- 
itable pride would never allow him, as a prisoner, to submit 
to the degradation of compulsory hibor or corporeal punish- 
ment, they would never submit to oppression, but having de- 
termined on resistance, would conquer their independence or 
perish in the last ditch. 

And the expectations of those who understood the char- 
acter of John Stark were never disappointed. 

He was emphatically the man for the times and the occa- 
sion, a man with wiiom honor was an end, and life merely a 
means, valuable or worthless, and worse than worthless, as 
it could be used in the great contest for freedom and right, or 
must be dragged out in unmanly submission to tyranny and 
opppression. As generous and openhanded as the day, John 
Stark was not the man to withhold millions for defence ; but 
to yield one cent for tribute, he must have ceased to be John 
Stark, or the true model of any other Stark whom I ever 
knew or heard of. 

But why dwell longer on the character of this great Revo- 
lutionary hero, on the romantic incidents of his early life or 
the glorious achievements of his mature manhood ? These 
must be familiar to you all ; history has recorded them, poe- 
try has found in them a pleasing theme for immortal verse. 

He-has failed to read the story of his country's trials and 
triumphs who knows not of the Stark of Bennington, him 
who led the sons of New Hampshire over the borders of their 
native mountains, (for, thank God, the hillsides of the old 
Granite State have never yet been pressed by tlie foot of the 
invader,) to a glorious victory whicli turned back the tide of 
successful invasion, about to sweep with resistless fury over a 
despondent and almost exhausted land. 

My friends, I should do injustice to my own feelings, and 
I doubt not, to yours as well, should 1 confine myself to a 
consideration of the character and services of Gen. John 



94 

Stark alone. It has been my good fortune to enjoy a per- 
sonal acquaintance and intercourse with many of the Stark 
family, descendants of Gen. John Stark, at diiferenl periods 
of my life ; they have been my neighbors and my friends 
and I can truly say that the same traits of character exhibi- 
ted in exalted public stations by Gen. Stark were and are pos- 
sessed by his descendants and kinsmen, and shown by them, 
in their less conspicuous but always useful sphere of life. 
His brother, Archibald Stark, served as a lieutenant in the 
Ranger (jorps in the old French war, was one of the first 
grantees of your town where he long resided and died at a 
very advanced age, in Hopkinton, N. H., at the residence of 
his son James, who was a surgeon in the U. S. army in the 
war of 1812, a skillful physician, very quiet in manner, clear 
headed and of resolute will, highly respected while livmg and 
deeply lamented when dead. 

Caleb, son of Gen. John Stark, was a man of marked 
ability — a worthy son of a worthy sire — and as a writer, I 
should judge more talented than his father, owing probably 
to better advantages in acquiring an education. The open- 
ing scenes of the Revolution found him a stripling of sixteen 
years, but not too young in his own estimation to do yeoman's 
duty in the service of his country. The remonstrance of af- 
fection failed to keep him from the field of honor, and after 
taking part as a private volunteer in the battle of Bunker's 
Hill, he continued to serve in various capacities throughout 
the war, the close of which found him a Major in the con- 
tinental army. He was, as a writer, possessed of a forcible 
and vigorous style, clear ideas and powerful logic. 

Of his son Caleb Stark, Esq., late a resident of your town 
and well known to most of those who hear me, I can scarce- 
ly speak save with the partiality of personal friendship ; but 
I think you will agree with me wdien I say, that added to 
spotless integrity he possessed a fine education and excellent 
literary taste and ability, and that there never breathed a man 
of more genial and hospitable nature, a truer gentleman or 
more generous friend. 

The sole surviving male representative of the Stark family, 
now resident in your town, is here to-day in the person of my 
young friend, Charles Frederick Morris Stark, and as I have 
spoken at some length of his paternal ancestry, it may not be 
inappropriate to allude briefly to his ancestry on the maternal 
side. 



95 

He is the lineal descendant of Robert Morris of Revolu- 
tionary celebrity, an eminent merchant of Philadeli)bia, one 
of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, at one 
time Treasurer of the United tslates and the great financier of 
his day, Avho devoted not only his financial skill but his own 
private credit to achieving that independence, the blessings 
of which we have so long enjoyed and which we fondly hope 
our descendants will maintain and enjoy to the latest genera- 
tion. '' 

I doubt not the noble qualities of head and heart exhibited 
by his revolutionary ancestors and likewise by his uncle and 
namesake, Charles Frederick Morris, who fell in the fight of 
Molino Del Rey, and by his uncle, Commodore Henry W. 
Morris, who died of disease contracted in the service of his 
country during the late rebellion, are shared by our youthful 
friend, and need only the maturity of manhood and the trump- 
et-call of his country which stirred the hearts of his illustri- 
ous kinsmen, to bring forth the fruits of heroic action and 
glorious achievements. 

I am sure that to all the surviving members of the Stark 
family the toast to which I have endeavored to respond does 
no more than justice. I will not, however, enlarge upon this 
topic because however much it may be due to their merit, 1 
know it would not be grateful to their modesty. 

Allow me in their behalf to return their thanks for the very 
kind and complimentary manner in which allusion has been 
made to them, and to assure you that the high esteem ex- 
pressed toward them is most heartily reciprocated. 

They feel with you that we should in the language of your 
sentiment, cherish and revere the memories of the departed 
soldiers, statesmen and patriots of the last eventful century, 
no matter of what state, town or family. Let us, my friends, 
not fail to render to them the tribute so justly due of that 
honor, which, next to their country's freedom and welfare, is 
the richest reward for their toils and sacrifices. 

Let us imbue ourselves with and teach to our children those 
high sentiments of honor, that generous spirit of self-sacrifice, 
that stern, unflinching allegiance to duly and love of coun- 
try which distinguished our heroic fathers, and let us adopt 
those ideas and practice those habits of republican simplicity 
which governed their actions, for tiius may we best preserve 
and transmit unimpaired to our posterity the rich inheritance 
of civil and religious liberty which they have bequeathed to 
us, and thus our names shall be held in grateful remembrance 



96 

when Dunbarton in 1965 shall again celebrate the centennial 
anniversary of the first day of her municipal existence. 



No. 12. The Ladies of Dunbarton : — "True Marys," who 
in this street sweeping age, are " keepers at home," bright 
'exemplars of the domestic virtues, the light and joy of every 
home, their presence shall purify and bless. 

Response by Col. William Kent of Boston, Mass.: 

Mr. President : — I suppose I am indebted to the fact that 
I am half Dunbarton, (the better half,) for the privilege of 
addressing you on this occasion ; at any rate 1 am gratilied 
to be present, to unite with the good people of Dunbarton in 
this interesting service, I recognize in the sentiment just 
read, the language of one of Dunbarton's most gifted sons,* 
who, if he had been here in bodily presence, would not only 
have richly enjoyed this gathering of the sons and daughters 
of his native town, but have largely contributed by his genial 
spirit and brilliant talents to the interest of the occasion. 

If, Mr. President, departed spirits are cognizant of what 
takes place on earth, may we not suppose that his noble and 
pure spirit is now hovering around us and participating in 
the enjoyment of the present scene. 

It appears to me, sir, that the sentiment is a just and true 
one, as applied to the ladies of this, ancient and respectable 
town, remote f]-om the allurements and temptations of city 
life. The ancient mothers of this Israel who have mostly passed 
on to a higher, led a quiet domestic life, in the regular and 
faithful discharge of all the duties devolving upon them as 
wives and mothers, and almost literally exemplified Solomon's 
description of a virtuous woman : "She seeketh wool and 
flax and workcth diligently with her hands ; she risctli while 
it is yet night and giveth meat to her household ; she layeth 
her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff; she 
lookcth well to the ways of her household and cateth not the 
bread of idleness." 

With the pulpit services and parochial duties of those 
faithful servants of God, who for so many years ministered to 

♦Chancellor Hoyt, of the University of St. Louis. 



97 

this people, they generally were well fortified in religious and 
moral principles. 

Given to hospitality, not grudgingly, they ministered of 
their abundance to the corat'ort and entertainment of their 
friends and the relief of tlie sick and suffering among them. 
Witli no taste for the favorites of fashion, they let their 
"adorning be not the outward adorning or plaiting of hair, 
(no waterfalls in those days,) nor of wearing of gold or put- 
ting on of apparel, but a meek and quiet spirit which in the 
sight of God is of great price." " In this manner did the holy 
women of old, who trusted in God, adorn themselves." 

The impress of their characters has been in a great degree 
stamped upon their descendants. With the increased advan 
tages of education, (in no town of its size has it been more 
generally diffused,) the present generation have in an un- 
common degree exhibited the morality, industry and simplic- 
ity of the mothers. Their education is not of that kind 
which delights itself in outward exhibition, but practical in 
its application to all the various duties and situations in which 
they are placed, whether to grace the parlor, and intellectual- 
ly to entertain their friends, or in attention to tlie humbler 
but not less necessary duties of the domestic affairs of the 
household. 

The ladies here do not consider that a finished education 
wholly consists in " working a fine screen, dancing a polka, 
drumming a sentimental tune upon a piano, or writing a love 
note upon gilt-edged perfumed letter paper to some gilt edged 
perfumed dandy." 

In the fashionable world the ladies here are not distinguish- 
ed for the street sweeping dresses so annoying to the unsus- 
pecting pedestrian, who, if by chance he steps upon one, (a 
liability that he is continually exposed in large cities,) is al- 
most sure to receive the frown if not the outward expression 
of anger. 

It was my fortune or misfortune the other day in Boston, 
to step upon one of these unnatural dresses, and received the 
sharp rebuke " that no gentleman would step upon a lady's 
dress." My only reply was, " Madam, your dress is very 
long^ but your Gc^-dress is very short.^'' The ladies here, to 
their credit be it spoken, so far as I have observed, are like 
their deportment, chaste and unassuming. 

Mr. President, the time usually allotted to services of this 
kind has expired, although the subject is far from being ex- 



98 

haiisted, but I will close by remarking that wherever there 
are any Coelebs in search of a wife, I would recommend that 
they should do as I did — come to the hills of Dunbarton. 



No. 13. The A. B's of Dunbarton, extensively known and 
as extensively honored. 

Response by Rev. Abraham Burnham, of Hooksett. 

The college graduates of Dunbarton owe very much to their 
native place. A most important part of their education is that 
which they acquired here among these rocks and hills. It is 
here that they received those early lessons which have given 
direction to their course of life. And what have they learned 
in this school of their nativity ? They have learned the ne- 
cessity of hard labor — a lesson which must be learned by every 
one who would be successful in professional life. No man 
can reasonably expect to be useful in any learned profession 
without hard and perservering labors, and if he becomes ac- 
quainted with this necessity at an early period of life, he will 
have so much the better opportunity to prepare himself for 
the business of his calling, and to become successful in it. 

This lesson is generally learned very early by those who are 
brought up on these rugged farms. Here the farmer must 
work or die^ and his children grow up with the impression 
that they who will not work, oiiii:ht to die, and when they go 
out into the world, they go with the expectation that they must 
labor hard and wait patiently for the reward of their toil. If 
they devote life to study, they naturally feel the benefit of 
their early impressions, and they must be greatly at fault if 
they do not profit by the stern lessons to be learned from the 
hard and stony ground. 

The college graduates of Dunbarton may also, very prop- 
erly, acknowledge a debt of gratitude to their native town on 
account of its natural scenery. The scenes which surround 
us in childhood, may be regarded as among the most import- 
ant of those influeuces which contribute to the formation of 
character ; and if there is any spot on earth where the natu- 
ral scenery is well adapted to exert a salutary influence, that 



99 

spot is to be found in our dear, old native town. A person 
who is brought up on these lofty hills, where he may gaze upon 
these vast and beautiful prospects, ought not to become a man 
of narrow views. Tiie impression made by these natural 
scenes, ought to find its way to the mind and heart, and the 
opportunity of seeing so much of nature at a single glance, 
should lead to the habit of taking extensive views in the moral 
world. In this way, and in many others, this natural scenery 
in childhood, and tlie recollections of it in later years, should 
prove very beneficial to the scholar. 

The college graduates of Dunbartonalso owe very much to 
the interest which the good people of tliis town have always 
felt in the subject of education. The citizens of this place 
have generally manifested a deep interest in those who were 
seeking the benefit of a public education, and this may be one 
great reason why so many have been encouraged to pursue a 
course of study in college, and, speaking as I now do in be- 
half of the graduates, I feel that I cannot express too much 
obligation to the people of Dunbarton for the interest they 
have uniformly manifested in the cause of education, and in 
those who are — in some measure — associated with that cause. 



No. 14. The Children of Dunbarton : — The delight of 
their parents in the present, and the hope of all for the fu- 
ture. 

Response by Rev. Silvanus Hayward. 

Mr. President and Friends : — If there be a man whose heart 
is not warmed by the presence of children, he is far from be- 
ing one to be envied. Children serve to keep life fresh and 
ever new. Even in old age, parents and grandparents live 
over again their boyisli and girlish days in the persons of their 
children and grandchildren. We are thus interested and de- 
lighted in what our children now are, — in witnessing the hi- 
larity of their sports, and the eager unfolding of their minds 
to receive the treasures of knowledge poured in upon every 
side. But the great thought connected with children is the 
thought of the future. I never look upon a child but I think 
of the probabilities of existence bound up in that little frame. 



100 

We have here had tributes paid to the memory of all classes 
of the Past and the Present. Divines, Physicians, Lawyers, 
Soldiers, and men of Peace, all have their place in your 
thoughts and your words to-day. One man speaks for one, 
another for another. But I spealc for all. For the children 
— our children — represent all these classes in the Future. 
Look upon the children and you see the hope of Dunbarton 
for the next hundred years. The Dunbarton of a century to 
come will be just what they make it. 

Speaking then, in behalf of the coming generation of men 
and women, in the name of your children, I would say, 
Fathers and Mothers, we thank you for this day long to be 
remembered by us. We thank you for the pleasures we here 
enjoy. We thank you for the stories which to-day you have 
told us of the deeds and renown of our great-grandfathers. 
And we now ask that in looking back thus to your ancestors, 
you will not forget us. We ask you to remember that your 
influence and example, and the privileges you give us will 
serve to shape and determine our future lives. Let them 
then, be such as to make iis just what you desire us to be- 
come. Remember that our characters will be just what you 
make them. Give us good school-houses well filled with all 
the means of storing our minds with useful knowledge. Give 
us good mceling-houses, attractive and commodious, where 
the pure gospel shall be preached, and the Sabbath School 
shall open its doors to give us a knowledge of bible truths. 
And especially let our home influences, your example and 
instruction be such as to elevate and improve our minds and 
hearts. Such as we see you, we shall endeavor to become, 
except that we shall try to advance fiirther than you in what- 
ever direction you take the lead. If you set before us high- 
minded christian characters, adorned with noble-hearted, 
open-handed generosity, or if, on the other hand, you choose 
to show that tlie great end of your existence is to save and 
accumulate money, regardless of honor, ])ublic-spirit and 
christian benevolence, — in either case, we shall imitate you. 
Your characters will be reflected in us. 

We ask you then, to influence us to the noblest, purest 
course of life. We ask you to give us all the privileges and 
advantages that this modern age can bestow. And we pledge 
ourselves to improve them well. We will advance in propor- 
tion to the privileges you furnish us. And in our turn will 
we bestow still greater advantages upon those who come after 
us. Then shall your " sons be as plants grown up in their 



101 

youth, and your daughters as corner-stones polislicd after the 
similitude of a palace." Thus shall Dunbarton be every- 
where known as a pattern, not only of morality and intelli- 
gence, but of unselfish charity and manly generosity. And 
om' children, also, gathering from all parts of the laud, shall 
celebrate her second Centennial, and commemorate with 
thankful hearts the wisdom and virtues of their fathers and 
mothers, — the children of to-day. 



No. 15. The absent Sons and Daughters of Dunbarton. 

Response by Frank A. Putney. 

Mr. President, Respected Townspeople, and Friends : I do 
not know why I am called upon to respond to a sentiment 
here to-day, while there are so many others in this grand as- 
sembly, more befitting the theme and the occasion, 

I speak to you with diffidence, for I cannot but feel myself 
a stranger. 'My school-life, varied only by an occasional and 
short vacation, and latterly, my connection of nearly four 
years with the army, have narrowed my acquaintance with 
you, and kept me for the greater part away from among these 
dear familiar spots, which we, in after life, but learn to love 
so well. 

It were needless to speak of the occasion that has assem- 
bled us here on this bright and beautiful autumnal morning, 
and it were also needless to make mention of the settlement 
of our loved and honored town, or any of the incidents con- 
nected with her career, for they must be familiar to you all, 
from the time, when, one century ago, those iron arms and 
sturdy chests commenced battling with the giants of the wood, 
when the boundless expanse of the majestic forest was un- 
broken save by the waving meadows and sparkling waters, 
and the stillness of the air unbroken save by the timid footfall 
of the industrious beaver, the angry howling of the beasts of 
prey, or the startling war-whoop of the hostile Indian, down 
to to-day, when native historians have so eloquently chroni- 
cled her progress, and native bards so sweetly sung her praise. 

'Tis a pleasing study for the eye to look upon the assembly 
here to-day, when every heart seems glad. 



102 

I see dancing, prattling children, unconscious of the nature 
of the occasion, yet confident from the assuring smiles of all, 
that the hour is one of joy. I see young manhood in all its 
pride of strength and aspiration, eager and ardent to begin 
the great battle of life. I see the laughing eye and rosy check 
of fair maidens, whose willing hearts and dextrous fingers 
have converted the grim and dingy walls of this time-honored 
old edifice before which we stand, almost into a bower of par- 
adise. I see stern fathers and smiling dames, whose open 
purses and capacious side-boards have furnished the boimte- 
ous collation which we have so much enjoyed. And I see, 
too, still further back, those whose brows have been furrowed 
by so many years of care, whose heads have been tinged by 
the frosts of so many winters, but whose hearts are affection- 
ate and youthful still. 

We can imagine their thoughts as they gaze upon this scene. 
These orchards planted by their own hands, these forests sub- 
dued by their own industry, the rock, the stream, the wood, 
the hearthstone around which they and their children have 
sat, where they have seen so much to love, and learned so 
much to remember. These are sacred scenes to them — these 
bring back memories to their minds, that nothing else can, — 
these are their homes, the homes of their children and their 
childrens' children. 

But there are others, sons and daughters of Dunbarton, who 
are not with us here to-day, whom distance or circumstances 
have forbidden the pleasure of taking part in this commemo- 
ration, but who, through numerous letters of regret, tender 
us their well-wishes, and sympathetic cooperation. From the 
Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Lakes to the Gulf, in the 
busy cities and smiling villages of the interior, on the fertile 
prairies of the vast West, and among the sunny valleys of the 
golden ganJen of the world, they are helping to develop the 
products of the soil, to unfold the hidden riches of the mine, 
and to bring out and apply the hitherto undiscovered myste- 
ries of natural and artificial science, thus adding to the power, 
the wealth and honor of our country. God bless and prosper 
them. We can but wish them well. 



103 

No. 16. Our Returned Soldiers: — 
Our country's saviors, and our township's pride, 
Our real heroes, patriotic, braA'e and true, 
Who knowing how to dare, knew also how to do. 

Response by Lieut. Marcus M. Holmes. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : — The long list of 
exercises yet remaining upon the programme, and tlie sun 
already hid behind yon western hills, admonish me to be 
brief. 

1 rejoice that I am included among those mentioned in the 
heading of the sentiment just read, and that the true and 
brave men, in whose behalf I am called upon to speak, need 
no words of mine to prove that " knowing how to dare," they 
" knew also how to do." 

We are thankful, although many of our comrades sleep 
their last sleep, that so many of us are permitted to b(^ here 
to-day. Our soldier's life with its many temptations, its daily 
privations and its unknown dangers, has passed away. if-The 
cause in which we engaged has been successful. No armed 
band bears aloft a hostile flag within the limits of the repub- 
lic, and quietly but gladly we return to our chosen pursuits 
in civil life. 

Let us all hope that, if a century hence, when the citizens 
of Dunbarton shall assemble to commemorate its two hun- 
dredth birthday, there shall be occasion to offer such a senti- 
ment as the one just proposed, that it will apply to soldiers in 
a foreign and not a domestic war. 



No. 17. Our Invited Guests. 

Response by Hon. N. G. Upham of Concord. 

Mr. Upham said he considered it an honor and a pleasure 
to be called upon to speak in behalf of the invited guests, 
because he knew he expressed their unanimous sentiment 
when he said they were higldy gratified in being present on 
this Centennial Anniversary of the settlement of the town. 

It is always an occasion of interest when we are called 
upon, after long recurring periods, to look back upon the 



104 

history of the past, compare it with the responsibilities of the 
present, and look onward to the future. To-daj always bears 
within it the promise of to-morrow. If the citizens of a 
town are distinguished during the first fifty years of its his-, 
tory, by their efficiency, industry and high moral character, 
such you may reasonably expect, will be their history the 
coming fifty years. If such has been their character the past 
century, such you have reason to hope it will continue to be. 

Dunbarton was settled by an enterprising, laborious popu- 
lation, who came here for the purpose of building up perma- 
nent homes. They worked not for the day merely, but with a 
wise forecast, for the best interests of themselves and their 
posterity. They selected this long upland slope of hills, then 
crowned with the giant growth of centuries, knowing that its 
soil bore, within it, the means of sustenance, and its breezy 
atmosphere gave assurance of health, and that, with their 
own good efforts, and the blessings of God upon them, they 
might lay the foundation of a thrifty town and aid in upbuild- 
ing the high destinies of a great and glorious country. 

Here they have lived and labored, illustrating through va- 
rious generations, the worth of an honored and pious ances- 
try ; rearing their children in the faith of their fathers, main- 
taining among them a high order of intellectual culture and 
rendering them worthy successors of a goodly heritage. All 
around us to-day we see the evidences of thrift and content- 
ment ; cultivated fields and happy homes ; highly developed 
moral sensibilities and bright-eyed intelligence. 

There are many subjects connected with your history, and 
others connected with those public duties incumbent upon us 
as citizens of a favored country, on which we migbt like to 
remark, but the lateness of the hour will not allow us to de- 
tain you farther. 

We can only say that we are most happy to greet you and 
be with you on this occasion ; to trace our ancestry, or that 
of those dear to us, from this ancient home. We thank you 
for your cordial reception and liberal hospitalities. We join 
you in all the happy associations and sacred remembrances of 
the past, and we bid you God speed, as we take leave of you, 
bearing with you the bright banners of hope into the coming 
century. 



105 

No. 18. Our Fallen Soldiers : — Martyrs to Trutli, Liberty 
and Law ; — their memories are always glorious and shall be 
always green. 

Response by Capt. David A. Macurdy, of Webster. 

Mr. President and Fellow-citizens of my native Town, and 
of a yet noble, glorious, undivided Country : — I feel incompe- 
tent to do justice to the noble sentiment just uttered, but as 
your committee, through the Rev. Mr. Hayward, have kindly 
invited me to respond to this sentiment on this occasion, as a 
native of Dunbarton I did not feel at liberty to refuse to com- 
ply with the request. Yet it is with diffidence that I appear 
before you to-day to make this response, feeling sensible of 
my incompetence to do the subject justice, but hoping you 
will cast the mantle of charity over my failings, and remem- 
bering that I am Si soldier, (not an orator,) I will be very brief. 
My business during the past three years has called for actions 
more than words. 

Many of those within the sound of my voice, have, during 
the past four years, suffered and toiled through the long and 
weary night of darkness and gloom, with strong faith in the 
justness of our cause, and that the God of Battles who guided 
our grandfathers safely through tlie long dark struggle of the 
Revolution, would eventually bring us safely out of all our 
troubles, a united, happy people, and the priceless blessing of 
liberty handed down to us by the Revolutionary fathers, we 
would transmit to our posterity unimpaired, baptized anew in 
the blood of the bravest and best of our land. Our sacrifices 
have not been in vain. The dear old flag now defiantly floats 
all over our land, and as we have waited patiently but anx- 
iously through the long weary years of the past, years filled 
with gloomy, disconsolate defeats as well as glorious victory, 
we have reason to thank God and rejoice that before our vic- 
torious armies, this wicked, hell-born rebellion has been put 
down, and to-day sweet pe.ace smiles all over our land, from the 
Canadas to the Gulf, from the Atlantic to the Pacific shores. 
And the dear old flag under which we have met the rebel 
hosts in deadly conflict, and again and again rallied beneath 
its folds and met the enemies of our country, now proudly 
floats upon every hill-top and in every valley throughout the 
length and breadth of our whole land. I say we have reason to 
rejoice and be glad that peace, with its unnumbered blessings, 
now smiles upon us. Fellow soldiers, the hunger and fatigue, 

M 



106 

the danger and exposure, and hardship and siifTering of the 
past four years are not to be endured by us again. They are 
to be remembered and talked of as of the past. The war is 
over ; no more shall the beat of the drum, the echoes of the 
fife or the bugle blast call you from the peaceful pursuits of 
civil life to deeds of daring and of death, but you can now 
return to your farm, your counting-room or your workshop 
with the proud satisfaction, that when the dark breakers of 
disunion were tossing the old ship, and she seemed just ready 
to sink, and when traitors, even here among our granite hills, 
were aiding by their words and sympathies the monster re- 
bellion, tlien you manfully rallied to the rescue, and have no- 
bly and bravely fought the battles of our country, and the 
liidcous monster rebellion is dead and hurried, although some 
of its children yet live, the old chief within the walls of Fort 
Monroe, others scattered around in different forts — some beg- 
ging pardon of the President, others exiles in a foreign land, 
looking vainly to see the shores which they left in the hope 
of returning despotically to rule. Some of you come back 
maimed and crippled for life, others with constitutions broken 
and health ruined ; but, fellow soldiers, your sufferings have 
not been in vain, but to save a nation's flag, a nation's honor, 
and a nation bears you on its lists of heroes. But the tear of 
regret, of sorrow, fills the eye when we remember the bloody 
battlefields of Bull Run, Antietam, Ohancellorsville, Gettys- 
burg, Port Hudson, Opequan, Vicksburg, Spottsylvania, 
Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Petersburg, and hundreds of 
others as bloody, and those brave and true men who so nobly 
fought by your side, and to-day are sleeping the long sleep of 
death. As you recall their memories, their smiling counte- 
nances and hopeful and cheerful dispositions, and remember 
how in a soldier's grave you laid their mangled bodies away 
, there on the battlefield to rest until the resurrection morn ; 
and others, wounded and bleeding, you carried from the field 
to linger and die in a southern climate far away from home 
and friends, that they, too, cannot rejoice over the downfall of 
rebellion, and with you return to the embrace of the loved 
ones at home. 

Well may we weep for those brave and true men ; they 
were our brothers and sons, and the best of our nation's 
blood has been freely poured out. Dunbarton mourns to- 
day amid her rejoicing for her martyr dead ; "martyrs to truth, 
liberty and law. Their memories are always glorious and 
shall be ever green." But when we consider that they have 



107 

fallen as soldiers love to fall, that their sufferings and death 
were not in vain, but to save a nation's flag, a nation's honor, 
the eye loses the tear, their graves are ours, our country's 
flag for which they died shall wave in triumph over them un- 
til the last trumpet shall sound, their graves shall be kept sa- 
cred, their memories shall be enshrined in the hearts of a gen- 
erous people, and we offer the mourning friends a soldier's 
sympathy, who have lost husband, son or brother during gal- 
lant duty for Truth, Liberty and Law. We know how to 
sympathize with you, for a loved brother's bones lie bleach- 
ing on Virginia's soil. And let us not be unmindful of the 
mourning widows and orphan children whose husbands and 
fathers have perished in defence of the old flag, give them 
substantial tokens of your regards, and remember, you who 
have not been permitted to share in the dangers and hard- 
ships of the campaign, that you owe the living heroes a debt 
which you never can repay ; you know but little of the sac- 
rifices they have made and the dangers and hardships endur- 
ed for the nation's life. And, my fellow soldiers, we who 
have survived the terrible conllict of the past four years, and 
are permitted to return to the embraces of the loved ones at 
home and the peaceful pursuits of civil life, let us make as 
good and faithful citizens as we have been soldiers, then we 
shall have the proud satisfaction of having done our duty 
faithfully to our counlry in its time of need, and to our fel- 
low men. And to the misguided people of the South, to the 
rank and file of the rebel armies, we offer pardon, at the 
same time we demand that justice be meted out to the lead- 
ers, to those who have murdered our brothers by the thou- 
sand in the southern prison pens. It is dilTicult to conceive 
of punishment for those men too severe. The trial of Wirz, 
now going on at Washington, is daily developing facts in con- 
nection with the Andersonville prison too revolting to be 
mentioned here. Thousands have there sufl'ered and died 
from starvation, martyrs to Truth, Liberty and Law. Their 
memories shall be ever cherished by a grateful people. Their 
graves, although far from the homes they loved, where no 
wife, mother or sister can scatter flowers or wet with their 
tears, shall ever be kept sacred. We trust that sweet peace 
will smile on our beloved land for all time to come, but if 
treason shall again raise its unholy head, if traitors shall 
again assaU the old flag, our swords, our muskets, our lives 
are pledged on our country's altar, and we swear by the graves 
of onr dead brotbf^rs. scattered all over the South, we swear 



108 

by the grave of our murdered President, that hereafter trai- 
tors shall receive a traitor's reward, and the assassin the as- 
sassin's doom. 



No. 19. Dunbarton for the next hundred years. 

Response by Rev. E. 0. Jameson of Salisbury, Mass. 

Being called upon to respond to the Future of Dunbar- 
ton, I beg leave to do so by reading from the Book of Pro- 
phecies the things that are written, concerning this goodly 
land and the inhabitants thereof: 

For it came to pass in the first year of the reign of one 
called Frederick, whose surname was Smyth, when he was 
Governor in the land of New Hampshire, in the nintli 
month and thirteenth day of the month, that all the people 
that were born and dwelt in the region called Dunbarton, as- 
sembled with one accord in one place. 

For it was a hundred years since their fathers had gotten 
the land in possession. And it seemed good unto the elders 
and scribes and chief men to make proclamation and assem- 
ble the people and observe a day of feasting and congratula- 
tion over the past and of rejoicing over the bright prospects 
of the future. 

And so word went forth and the people flocked together, 
and sons and daughters came from far, so that there was a 
large midtitude both of men and women and children. 

And when many had risen up and spoken in the great as- 
semblage, and the people were made glad by the things that 
their sons heard. Then rose up Ephraira one of the least 
among the gospel prophets, and he stood and prophesied of 
things that should come to pass. 

And these are the saying and prophecies which Ephraim 
prophesied in the ears of the people when they celebrated the 
first Centennial in the land of their fathers : 

" Unto me, who am least of all the prophets, who are call- 
ed prophets is it given to speak of things that shall come to 
pass in this land, where, for generations, our fathers have 
lived and within whose sacred soil their ashes now peacefully 
repose. 

And now be it known unto you, O, ye people, that this 
goodly land of onr fathers shall not cease to be called as it is 
this day, to the end of time. 



109 

Dunbartoii shall be tho name thereof to tlie latest genera- 
tion. Nor shall the stranger and the foreigner possess and 
cultivate your fields, but your lands shall be to you, and your 
children after you, for a perpetual possession. And it shall 
come to pass that the fruitfuiness of your lands shall be great- 
ly increased. Your wide acres shall become as gardens, and 
your waste places fruitful field*:. Your meadow lands shall 
redden with cranberries in abundance. Your hills, even to 
their summits, shall wave and shake like Lebanon with ripen- 
ing grain and the golden corn. Your wild woodlands shall 
become as cultivated fields. Your streams shall nourish 
swarms of the finny tribes, and turn the mighty waterwheels 
of enterprise and manufacture. 

By the genius and industry of the people will the natural 
resources of land and water be developed to a wonderful ex- 
tent. Agriculture will continue to be the chosen and chief 
pursuit of your sons. Yet not as the father will the son cul- 
tivate the paternal estate. Newly invented implements of 
husbandry will displace and supersede those in present use. 
Labor-saving machines will be largely introduced so that farm- 
ing, once regarded drudgery, will^becorae a pleasurable pas- 
time. Wealth will increase, greater conveniences of living 
will be introduced and men of taste and elegance of archi- 
tecture will beautify your homes ! 

With the increase of enterprise and wealth will come also 
improvements in every direction. Your educational inter- 
ests will receive greater attention, and a new impulse will 
be given to your schools. Your public schools will ere 
long be conducted on a new plan and more liberally patron- 
ized and endowed. 

It will be the wisdom of your citizens to establish at the 
Center of the town a High School of the first order, affording 
all the facilities needed to prepare your sons and daughters 
for college and the higher seminary, or graduate them well 
qualified for any of the business and social positions they may 
be called upon to fill. 

It will further be the wisdom of those who are to provide 
for the interests of education to resolve the numerous schools 
of the town into three or four at reasonable distances, all of 
them tributary and subordinate to the High School at the 
Center. On such a system the best teachers can be secured 
and the terms now so fractional and short, can be made to 
fill the whole year, so that the amount of schooling will be 
more than doubled, while it will be of a much higher quality. 



110 

Tlie future will unfold no greater improvements than those 
indicated in the new system adopted and the new interest 
taken in your schools. The results will become very appar- 
ent in the increased intelligence of the people. 

There will come to pass, also, favorable changes and great 
advances to the mind and religious condition of your popu- 
lation. Two regular religious services will be sustained, one 
at the Center and the other at the east part of the town. 

The pastor of each will be liberally supported and his min- 
istrations fully attended. The house of God will become a 
lit place for his worship, neatly furnished and tastefully ar- 
ranged where the people will love to meet and pay their vows 
to Jehovah. As dawns God's holy Sabbath all will devoutly 
say, '• Let us go up to the house of the Lord." Let us stand 
in his holy courts to-day. And it shall come to pass that 
when all the people hear the gospel, morality and piety will pro- 
vail and your land shall be the " Garden of the Lord." 

But a hundred years will quickly roll away, and unto me 
it is given to prophesy what shall then be. Attend, therefore, 
to the vision of Ephraim, the prophet, for I behold and see 
things worthy to be written. 

When tlie things which shall then be have been passed in 
brief review, the object of these prophecies will be attained 
and my powers shall cease. A hundred years hence all things 
that are shall not l)e, all things that are not shall come to 
pass. 

Your grand children and descendants to the third and 
fourth generation, who shall meet a century hence and cele- 
brate a new Centennial, will see what it is not permitted us 
to see save by the light of this prophesy. 

Great improvements are to change the face of the scene 
before us to-day. This ancient church, where our fathers 
worshiped and prayed and were blessed, but now unused save 
for secular purposes, will withdraw from its present promin- 
ent position, and carefully restored g,nd yielded up to hands 
skilled in workmanship, a century hence it will be seen to 
grace the site now held by yonder vestry, a public hall of grand 
proportions and inviting appearance, and beside it will be seen 
a neat white chapel, consecrated to the purposes of the church. 
Ch'owning yonder hill to the south will be seen a substantial 
building of solid masonry in the midst of surrounding trees, 
within whose spacious walls assemble your sons and daugh- 
ters for purposes of learning. A hundred years hence your 
high scliool will be your pride and glory. 



Ill 

And as the eye sweeps up and down tliQ highway, it will 
take in many elegant private residences and other huildings 
of tasteful structure in highest contrast with wliat we see to- 
day. 

This public common, now so barren and waste, a century 
hence will bear on its fruitful bosom gigantic trees, wide spread 
and arching, a century old, planted by our hands' toil. These 
shaded groves enclosed with a substantial fence, traversed by 
graveled walks and adorned with flowers, will afford a sweet 
retreat, and make a lovely spot for our childrens' children 
to celebrate their centennial of this good town. 

It will then be told of us, and they shall proudly speak of 
their fathers of a hundred years ago, who impelled with an in- 
terest for those who shall live after them, as a tribute for com- 
ing generations, did thickly set centennial trees to record their 
names to the kind remembrance of those who shall thereafter 
enjoy their grateful shade. 

Not one of you, men of this vast multitude, will remain to 
extend our congratulations to those who shall celebrate the 
Bi-centennial of the town, but the trees we plant shall live and 
stand a memorial of this day and of us, Avhich shall call forth 
a deep response from thankful hearts, and inspire to further 
works of public improvement and beneficence. And those of 
a hundred years hence shall be worthy children of their noble 
sires. 

And here the vision ends. A century hence and these spa- 
cious grounds other feet shall travel, and gathered here beneath 
the coohng shade, other voices shall be heard, and catch a 
glance at the scene, and the vision passes. 

So ends this prophecy. 

And may a hundred years of glorious fulfillment succeed, 
is the prayer we utter to-day on the altars of our nativity. 



The next exercise in order was the singing of the closing 
Hymn, written by Rev. Silvanus Eayward. Tune, Saint 
Nicholas. 

Now the evening shadows lengthen, 
Comes the hour that we must part ; 

Let the festive moments strengthen 
Chains of love to twine the heart ; 



112 

Every soul their power shall feel, 

Binding as with bands of steel. 

.- • -N, 

For a moment let us linger, 
Ere again we scattered roam, 

While Time's restless, bony finger 
Points to our last silent home. 

Where, at length, a looked-for guest, 

Every wandering foot must rest. 

Here onr fathers' graves are round us. 
Here they bowed before their God, 

Here with solemn covenant bound us 
To the holy path they trod ; 

On their home-invited guests 

Now their benediction rests. 

Soon with them shall we be sleeping 
'Neath the shadows of life's even ; 

And our next centennial keeping 
On the battlements of heaven, 

In their mansions may we dwell, 

Never more to sino: " Farewell." 



After prayer by Rev. Wm. Clark, the assembly united in 
singing Old Hundred, in the familiar words, 
*' Be thou, God, exalted high, 
And, as thy glory fills the sky, 
So let it be on earth displayed, 
Till thou art here, as there, obeyed." 



The sun had already set and the twilight was fading into 
darkness, when we dispersed to our homes, grateful for the 
record of a century past, and girding ourselves anew for the 
toils and conflicts of a century to come. 



APPENDIX 



I 



POE M 



The following lines were written for the occasion by Mrs. 
Louisa W. Colby of Henniker, but were not received till after 
the day of celebration. 

Dunbarton's centennial bh'tbday, 

Proud day for her children to meet; 
On her beautiful hill-top they gather 

To mingle in intercourse sweet. 

From every point of the compass, 
The highest and humblest she's called ; — 

They joyfully come at her bidding 
In her favor to be re-installed. 

Some come with the tear-drop of sorrow 

To moisten the spot, where repose 
The mortal remains of some loved one, 

Whose eyelids in death they had closed. 

All come with softened emotion, 

The scenes of the past to review ; 
The lost links of memory to grapple, 

And join with the present anew. 

Ere the forest trees lost their dominion, 
Or the wild beasts had ceased here to roam. 

Our puritan fathers and mothers 

Had christened this spot as their home. 

They first thought to call it Dwmbarton, 
But for some reason changed it to Dun, 

For which their posterity thank them, 
The last name's a beautiful one. 



115 

And what other place like Dunbarton 

Can boast for a century of time 
So much of a pure morality, 

So little of vice and crime ? 

O where has our holy religion 

More firmly been planted than here ? 

The fire on its altar-place burning 
Through every revolving year. 

And here, without aid from Endor, 
A good man comes up to our view. 

He seems still to stand at that altar 
Enkindling its fires anew. 

The full gushing tears are fast falling, 
As he sends forth his thrilling appeals : 

Other hearts by his eloquence stirring 
With the sacred emotion he feels. 

But no ! we but dream ! he's not here. 

From his glorious stand-point away, 
Where his eye is undimmed by a tear, 

He looks on this gathering to-day ; 

Sees the fire has still been kept burning 
By those who his mantle have worn ; 

Long years by his chosen successor, 
And now by another in turn. 

From such scenes her sons and her daughters 
Have gone forth to bless the wide earth ; 

Where'er they've unfurled their life-banners, 
They've honored the place of their birth. 

They've adorned the holiest professions 

On native and heathen ground : 
Through the loftiest halls of science 

Their well- trained voices resound. 

They've been heard in the voice of the nation, 
Helped its mighty power to wield ; 

They have stood mid the din of battle. 
And died on the tented field. 

Her daughters shine bright in her annals, 

Their influence they've stamped on their age; 



116 

Noble deeds cluster thick in their pathway. 
Noble themes their best powers engage. 

Though skilled in modern inprovcments. 
And the drawing room fitted to grace, 

They can bring forth the fruits of the dairy. 
And could ride on a pillion apace. 

"With sterling good sense they've united 
The virtues their mothers possessed 

With those of more delicate culture, 
Which so beautiful thrive in their breast. 

But Dunbarton possesses a history 
That cannot in poor rhyme be told ; 

She has children to gather its treasures. 
And place them in settings of gold. 

So we bid farewell to the century, 

And our pen reluctantly drop, 
In the midst of a theme so inspiring, 

We scarcely know how to stop. 



Very few letters were received in response to the circular 
of invitation. The following are given as specimens. 

Columbus, 0., Aug. 12, 1865. 
Rev. S. Hayivard. Dear Sir: — 

Having been absent from the city, yours of July 26th, is 
just received. I am ver?/ sorry to say that press of business 
just at that time, will probably make it impossible for me to 
be present on the occasion of the celebration on the 13th of 
►September. 

Please accept my thanks for the kind invitation, and assure 
the Committee that nothing would afford me more pleasure 
than to join with them in reviewing the old associations of my 
dear old home — Dunbarton. God bless you and her. 

Yours, truly, 

GEO. H. TWISS. 



West Granville, Aug. 26, 1865. 
To H. M. Putney, David Story, G. B. French, 3. 31. Bailey 

and L. Rowell. 

Gentlemen — Your notice of a Centennial celebration in 
Dunbarton has come to hand, and it is with pleasure that I 



117 

learn the citizens of my native town are to assemble and unite 
on that pleasing occasion, to wit, the hniidredth year from its 
incorporation, and it would give me much pleas^ure to once 
more visit my native place, and join in your celebration, if ar- 
rangements for September would permit. But, gentlemen, 
and fellow-townsmen, if we should never meet on earth, God 
grant we may meet in that great assembly who shall gather 
around the throne in heaven, ascribing glory, honor and 
thanksgiving to Him that sitteth on the throne and unto the 
Lamb forever. I remain, your humble servant, 

ANDREW SMITH. 
P. S. My wife joins with me in the foregoing. 



Oberlin, Sept. 2, 1865. 
To the People of Dunbarton. 

Respected fellow citizens — I received your very kind invi- 
tation to meet with you to celebrate the one hundredth anni- 
versary of the incorporation of my native town. How many 
pleasant recollections are associated with that place where I 
spent my childhood ; and nothing could give me greater pleas- 
ure than to visit those places so familiar to me in youth, and 
hold converse with those who were then my companions. But 
as 1 shall not be able to be present, I write a few lines to ex- 
press my thanks for your kind remembrance, and to add, if it 
were possible, one mite of interest to the occasion. 

My father, William Alexander, came from Dunharton to 
the state of New York (I think) in the year 1820, when I was 
twelve years old. At that time I had four brothers and two 
sisters living ; since then, my parents, three brothers and one 
sister have died in the faith of the gospel ; and the inquiry 
often presents itself to my mind : how many of those with 
whom I was acquainted in youth, should I find living if I were 
with you to-day. 0, how I should like to take you l>y the 
hand, and bid you God speed in your way to Zion, if your 
faces are thitherward. I hope no son of Dunbarton has been 
found disloyal to his country in the hour of trial. If so, may 
he remember from whence he has fallen, repent and return to 
his allegiance, that he may be forgiven before it is too late. 

I very well remember the instruction of the venerable Mr. 
Harris, who so long and faithfully labored in Dunbarton ; his 
preaching on the Sabbath, his visiting and catechising the 
schools, and the various other ways in which he, as a pastor, 



118 

labored to promote the cause of true religion ; and as he was 
laid aside by the infirmities of age, and called to his reward, 
I am happy to learn that the candle-stick has never been re- 
moved out of its place. May the water of life, that has been 
issuing from under the threshhold of the sanctuary, still con- 
tinue to flow until it shall become a river that cannot be passed 
over. May the same kind hand tliat has ever led you, still be 
your guide and protector, and make you fruitful in every good 
work, is the sincere prayer of your humble son and brother, 

ROBERT ALEX AN*DER. 

P. S. Not being present in substance, I can do no less than 
to send my shadow, with the request that it may be given to 
some relative or friend, which ever it may be, who will cast 
their shadow back to me. R. A. 

This letter enclosed a photograph of Mr. Alexander, which 
is now in possession of his relatives in Dunbarton. 



Pembroke, July 26, 1865. 
* * * * As to being with you on the loth, at 
the Centennial,! know I should enjoy the occasion very much, 
and if I were present, should be happy to speak on the sub- 
ject you mentioned. But such is the condition of my health, 
I dare not give any encouragement. Want of health is my 
only excuse ; but this is something which I cannot control. 
Should I feel able at the time, I should rejoice to meet you. 

* * * Very truly, yours, 

JOHN M. PUTNAM. 

Under date of August 31st, 1865, Mr. Putnam writes from 
Yarmouth, Me.: " The case is very decided that I cannot be 
present consistently with any suitable regard for my health. 

* * * Tell the people it is a very great self-denial for 
me to stay away, and nothing but want of suitable health 
would prevent my attendance on your celebration." 

The suggestion of Prof. Mills on page 77, was accompan- 
ied with a private letter, in which occurs the following pas- 
sage : " I will give $50 towards i\\Q permanent funds of the 
proposed school. * * Some of the non-residents * * 
could give $500 better than I could give $50. If the scheme 
strikes you favorably, push it through, and it will prove a 
fountain of perennial blessings to the people of Dunbarton." 



119 

In accordance with this suggestion, the matter was brought 
before the Centennial Committee, and a committee was ap- 
pointed to consider tlie matter, and take such action as they 
deem advisable. This committee consisted of Rev. Silvanus 
Hayward, Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, Deacon Daniel H. Parker, 
Thomas Kimball, Esq., Thomas Johnson, Esq., LeRoy R. 
Mills, Esq., Hon. Henry L. Burnham, Chas. G. B. Ryder, 
Esq., John C. Mills, Esq. After several meetings, it was 
agreed by this committee that ten thousand dollars would be 
the smallest sum that would place the school on a working 
foundation, so as to secure free tuition to the inhabitants of 
the town. Chas. G. B. Ryder, Esq., was chosen to see what 
subscriptions could be raised for this purpose. At this time 
no more definite report can be made. 

The following is the subscription list for defraying the ex- 
penses of the Celebration : 



Betsey Alexander, 


$100 


Elizabeth Marshall, 


2 50 


Hiram Atwood, 


100 


Enoch P. Marshall, 


10 00 


Horace Atwood, 


100 


Mary Marshall, 


2 50 


Oliver Bailey, 


10 00 


James McAuley, 


100 


Amsdeu Barnard, 


100 


J. C. Me Intire, 


100 


Ezra C. Barnard, 


50 


John 0. Merrill, 


100 


Sam'l E. Barnard, 


100 


James F. Mills, 


2 00 


Tristram Barnard, 


3 00 


John Mills, 


2 00 


Charles Brown, 


5 00 


JohnC. Mills, 


5 00 


John D. Bunten, 


2 00 


Leroy R. Mills, 


200 


Henry L. Burnham, 


5 00 


Matthew S. Mills, 


100 


John Burnham, 


10 00 


Thomas Mills, 


5 00 


Saml Burnham, 


100 


James W. Moore, 


100 


Wm. B. Burnham, 


3 00 


Joseph C. Moore, " 


2 00 


Lora Brigham, 


50 


John E. Morse, 


2 50 


Serena Brown, 


30 


True Morse, 


2 50 


Wm. Caldwell, 


2 00 


George Noyes, 


1 00 


Alonzo P. Chamberlain, 


100 


Caleb Page, 


4 00 


Joseph A. Chamberlain, 


3 00 


Ebenezer Page, 


5 00 


Charles Cliftbrd, 


3 00 


George W. Page, 


5 00 


Isaac P. Clifford, 


5 00 


John Page, 


2 00 


Walter G. Clough, 


100 


John Page, Jr., 


100, 


Cyi-us F. Colby, 


2 50 


Daniel H. Parker, 


20 00 


Ira N. Colby, 


100 


Alfred Perkins, 


5 00 


James W. Colby, 


100 


George Perkins, 


100 


Nath'l J. Colby, 


100 


John C. Per ley. 


100 


Sargent Colby, 


100 


Lydia Perley, 


50 


Willoughby Colby, 


60 


Moses Perley, 


100 


!Mrs. Colby, 


100 


Stephen Pillsbury, 


2 00 


A. Collins, 


50 


W. E. Poor, 


200 


Luke Converse, 


3 00 


Abel Pi-escott, 


50 



120 



Eben Dow, 


150 


Otis Duke, 


2 00 


Wm. A. Elliott, 


100 


Lewis C. Fitts, 


100 


R. P. Fitts, 


1 00 


G. B. French, 


5 00 


Wm. N. Fuller, 


1 00 


Laiiriman Gutterson, 


100 


Lewis W. Hadley, 


100 


Wm. P. Hadley, 


100 


Alonzo P. Hammond, 


6 00 


Henry L. Hammond, 


3 00 


Horace Hammond, 


100 


J. M. Hammond, 


100 


Sam'l B. Hammond, 


5 00 


Stephen Hammond, 


100 


George Hart, 


100 


Wm. Haseltine, 


1 00 


Wm. G. Haseltine, 


100 


Silvanus Hayward, 


2 00 


Joseph F. Healey, 


I 00 


Chas. L. Holmes, 


3 00 


George W. Holmes, 


50 


Marcus M. Holmes, 


3 00 


John D. Houlihen, 


- 100 


James Huse, 


100 


John B. Ireland, 


2 50 


Jonathan Ireland, 


3 00 


Hugh Jameson, 


5 00 


J. P. Jameson, 


100 


Thomas Johnson, 


5 00 


John Keyes, 


2 00 


Chas. Kimball, 


5 00 


John Kimball, 


4 00 


Sam'l Kimball, 


10 00 


Thomas W. Kimball, 


2 00 


Almira Leach, 


100 


Aaron Lord, 


100 


Benj. Lord, 


2 00 


John Lord, 


5 00 


Justus Lord, 


2 00 


Thomas E. Luf kin, 


100 


Ansel Marshall, 


100 


Whole amount. 




Deduct, not paid in. 




•' counterfeit, 





George W. Fresco tt, 
John Putnam, 
Heni-y Putney, 
Henry M. Putney, 
John C. Ray, 
James M. Rogers, 
Leonard Rowell, 
Lewis D. Rowell, 
Chas. G. B. Ryder, 
Harris E. Ryder, 
Thomas C. Ryder, 
Nathl T. Safford, ■ 
David Sargent, 
Eliphalet R. Sargent, 
James Sawyer, 
Harriet Stark, 
Charles Stinson, 
John Stinson, 
Wm. C. Stinson, 
James Stone, 
James H. Stone, 
Wesley P. Stone, 
David Story, 
Lafayette Story, 
Israel Straw, 
David Tenney, 
John P. Tenney, 
Paige Twiss, 
George O. Waite, 
Jonathan G. Wheeler, 
Nathaniel H. Wheeler, 
Asenath Whipple, 
Benjamin Whipple, 
David T. Wliipple, 
Ann Wilson, 
Lewis Wilson, 
Thomas Wilson, 
Thos.S. Wilson, 
W. H. Wilson, 
Lyman Woodbury, 
Stillman Woodbury, 
Wm. B. Worthley, 
Native of Dunbarton, 



160 
60- 



100 

50 

10 00 

5 00 
3 00 
100 
100 
1 00 

6 00 
5 00 
5 00 
5 00 
150 
5 00 

1 00 
10 00 
20 00 

2 00 
10 00 

5 00 
100 

2 00 
10 00 
20 00 

3 00 

1 00 
5 00 
3 00 
100 
100 
3 00 

50 
5 00 

2 00 
100 
5 00 

5 00 
2 00 

6 00 
5 00 
1 00 
1 00 
5 00 

$416 80 

- 2 00 

$444 80 



121 



The following is a list of those citizens of Dunbarton who 
served in the Union Array during some part of the late war. 
Is is not probably perfect, but is*as accurate as the Editor has 
the means of making it. 



Amos C Bailey, 
James A. Baker,* 
Alonzo Barnard, * 
James E. Barnard, 
Peter Barnes, 
Ira Briggs, 
Elbridge C. Brown, 
Wilbur T. Brown, * 
Capt. Wm. E. Bunten, 
Bradford Burnham, 
Capt. Henry M. Caldwell, 
Horace Caldwell, 
Alonzo P. Chamberlain, 
Timothy Clark, 
Jeremiah Clongh, 
Moses K. Eaton, * 
John R. Emerson, 
Wm. C. Flanders, 
Peter Gravelin, 
Henry G. Hammond, 
Joseph F. Healey, 
David T. Heath, 
Simeon N. Heath, • 
Lieut. Marcus M. Holmes, 
JohnD. Houlihen, 



David A. Jameson, * 
Wra. H. Marshall, 
MerzellahA. Merrill, 
Frank B. Mills, 
George Noyes, 
Dan'l Ordway, 
Moses E. Ordway, 
Chester L. Page, 
Wilson E. Poor, 
Frank A. Putney, 
Wm. A. Putney, 
Daniel B. Roberts, 
John B. Scruton, 
Capt. Andrew J. Stone,* 
Samuel A. Symonds.* 
Benjamin Twiss, 
John W. Twiss, 
Frederick Waite, • 
Henry A. Waite, 
Robert E. Wheeler, 
Edward Everett Whipple,* 
J. Henry Whipp le, 
Leonard Wilson, 
Lewis Wood, 
Ly Sander Wyman. 



*Dete«ied. 



122 

FINANCIAL REPORT 
Of the Dunbar ton Centermial Executive Committee. 



REPOBT OF THE TREASURER. 



Received of Financial Committee, $444 80 

Ticket " proceeds sale of tickets 17 25 

Building " 19 34 

Dinner' " 192 

I have paid orders of the Secretary as follows : 

To C. Stinson, for use of Dinner Committee, 1G3 18 

S. Hay ward " Exercise " 66 65 

H. W. Putney " Invitation " 39 92 

C.Kimball " Building " 50 00 

H. W. Putney, Orator's expenses, 5 00 

G. B. French, forage, 2 50 

Total, $327 25 

TIIOS. WILSON, Treas. 



REPORT OP COMMITTEE ON EXERCISES. 



Paid for baud, Co 00 

postage, ... 1 65 

Total, $f)G r.5 

S. HAYWARD, Chairman, 



REPORT OF INVITATION COMMITTEE. 



Paid for 700 invitations, 1500 programmes and 1500 dinner 

tickets 25 00 

For envelopes, 1 87 

Postage on 647 invitations, 13 05 

Total, $39 92 

II. M. PUTNEY, Chairman. 



123 

REPORT OP DINNER COMMITTEE. 



Paid for meat, 132 00 

Brownbread 10 00 

Ice 3 00 

Use of crockery, 8 68 

Cooking meat, 8 00 

Table covering, 1 50 

Total $163 18 

Received for sale of baker's bread &c., 1 92 

CHARLES STINSON. Chairman. 



REPORT OP BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



Paid postage, 21 

Nails 3 00 

Brooms, 1 00 

T. C. Rider, drawing lumber, 3 50 

John C. Mills, " ♦• 8 50 

" three day's labor, 6 00 

D.T.Whipple, " " 6 00 

Lyman Woodbury, two day's labor, ... 4 00 

Harris E. Rider, three " " 00 

Charles Kimball, four " " 00 

D. T. WHiipple and J. C. Mills, for lumber, 22 16 

Use of and breakingnvagon, drawing lumber 2 00 

Surveying lumber 35 

$51 72 

Received from sale of lumber 20 56 

for bi'ooms 50 

$21 06 

Whole expense, $30 66 

CHARLES KIMBALL, Chairman, 

The above is a correct copy of the reports of the eeveral sub-com- 
mittees and Treasurer, as returned to me. In addition to the expen- 
ses of the committee, G. B. French has been paid $2,50 for horse- 
keeping, and Prof. Burnham, orator of the day, $5 for ('expenses. 
Nothing has been charged for, and no account 'kept of the labor of 
the members of the committee, or of the editor, except as shown by 
the report of the building committee. 

HENRY M. PUTNEY, Sec'y of the Com. 



124 

At a duly notified meetmg of the subscribers to the Cen- 
tennial fund, it was voted that the balance remaining in the 
hands of the Treasurer be used towards defraying tlie expenses 
of printing a record of the Centennial proceedings. Rev, Sil- 
vanus Hayward had previonsly been appointed to edit the 
same. His financial report is as follows : 

Paid Hc]n-y A. Gage for 500 copies of Centeunial 

Record $207 96 

Paid for postage in procuring manuscripts, &c 177 

209 73 

Received of Thomas Wilson, Treasurer of Centen- 
nial Committee 156 06 

Balance now due the Editor $53 67 



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